TESTIMONIALS
Click to see: what builders are saying | what engineers are saying | what framers are saying
BUILDERS
CHRIS GAUTREAUX, ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER OF MITCHELL HOMES, MOBILE, ALABAMA, BUILDER OF OVER 200 HOMES THERE ANNUALLY, SAYS,
“When building in high wind areas we use Windstorm panels from Norbord for structural wall sheathing. Windstorm panels allow us to meet codes while reducing the amount of costly uplift hardware. We also save on our blocking material, construction time, and framing labor. All our Windstorm sheathed houses survived Hurricane Ivan with no problems. We feel that Windstorm is the only way to go.”
JEFF KOELLMAN OF HOGAN HOMES, CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS SAYS,
“The horizontal joints with 4 x 8 panels must be blocked and flashed, adding labor and conflict with electrical and plumbing lines. Stud straps and clips take added time to install. Installed vertically, the Windstorm panels save on material, labor, and reduce job build time and eliminate horizontally blocked joints and strapping studs to plates. We use the Windstorm 97 1/8" and 109 1/8" panels nailed for shear and uplift to comply with IRC 2003...”
MR. JIM DAVIS OF TEXAS HOME DEVELOPMENT IN MONT BELVIEU TEXAS NEAR HOUSTON:
“I use the Windstorm 109 1/8" panel on my 9' stud walls to save the cost of blocking material and labor by eliminating horizontal joints. Also, my engineer uses the added top plate nailing to reduce the stud/plate uplift hardware resulting in savings of about $ 500 per house.”
BRANDON ROBERTS OF ATLANTIC COAST BUILDERS, MOREHEAD CITY, NC SAYS,
“Frustrated with the cost and time required to meet high wind codes using traditional 8' sheathing I was excited to see the windstorm ad. After contacting Norbord, they helped my building supply stock Windstorm.
“We've now switched to full height Windstorm and eliminated the horizontal joints and all the additional material, labor and waste costs previously endured. We produce a stronger home while saving time and money.
“No way would we go back to using the other expensive methods – Windstorm is the best way to sheath walls and meet the codes.”
STEVE PARSONS OF KAR-SAN DEVELOPMENT LTD, ELIZABETH CITY, NC HAS THIS TO SAY:
“We switched from using 8' panels to Norbord's full height panels on our two-story homes to save time and money and meet high wind codes. Starting these sheets at our sill plates we span through the first story floor band and wall section and join sheets in the second story floor band. The second sheet then takes us all the way up to our top plate. We save blocking material, handle fewer panels, cut waste and disposal costs, speed up framers, complete houses faster, and add savings to our bottom line.
“When I first spoke to my framer about Norbord's product he wanted to give me a hug. After he used them he said it was the best product to come along in years. Now our superintendent has other framers asking when they can use Norbord's product on their jobs. My framer, engineer, accountant, and I all agree that this is a better way to build.”
ENGINEERS:
DARREN CONRAD, P.E., ENGINEERING SPECIALIST OF COASTAL BUILDING INSPECTIONS, SAYS,
“Using Windstorm from Norbord as wall sheathing to eliminate blocking can be done without the review of an engineer.”
“Windstorm panels result in more code compliant shearwalls and provide a better method for shear transfer and can save builders time and money by eliminating blocking.”
“Without the headaches, the cost of lost time and material from blocking installation, the cutting and installing filler strips, the delays from improper installation and interference with mechanical, plumbing, and other trades.”
“Design specific engineering can eliminate uplift stud to plate connectors some plans.”
“Using Windstorm wall sheathing from Norbord results in more compliant shearwalls.”
“Eliminating blocking saves builders time and money because no blocking means no confusion on installation, no cutting and nailing of strips (regular size panels aren’t the right size), no delays for improper installation, no interference with mechanical, plumbing, or other trades.”
ACCORDING TO M. DON WILLIAMS, P.E., OF WILLIAMS ENGINEERING, MOBILE, ALABAMA,
“When engineering wall assemblies for high wind areas, using Windstorm panels from Norbord is a great way to meet code. Windstorm wall sheathing allows me to specify a nailing pattern that grabs both the bottom and top plates of the exterior stud wall. This approach helps me to meet my uplifts requirements while reducing the amount of costly uplift hardware. Builders accept Windstorm sheathing from Norbord as a great way to save on material and labor costs in our high wind counties.”
CARNES ENGINEERING, INC. BAYTOWN, TX. APPROVES WINDSTORM PANELS FOR A 300 HOME SUBDIVISION IN MONT BELVIEU, TX.
“We specify the Windstorm 109 1/8" panels to eliminate horizontal blocking on 9' exterior walls and this adds stiffness to wall construction. Intermediate stud/plate uplift hardware is eliminated by following a provided nailing pattern for shear and uplift using the 109 1/8" panel. Also, the OSB shutters required by code for wind born debris protection in most cases can be cut on site from the vertically installed panels over the window framing.”
MIKE QADDUMI PE, OF INTERFIELD GROUP CONSULTING ENGINEERS & CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS, IN HOUSTON TEXAS, STATED,
“Going plate-to-plate is a better method for shear wall construction and performance, it eliminates the common practice of not overlapping the top plate all the way (less margin for human error). It offers better shear development, less handling and nailing, while eliminating mis-nailing at blocked joints. The house is a better box.”
RONALD F. WOLFMAN, P.E., OF WOLFMAN & ASSOCIATES, P.C. CONSULTING STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, IN SILVER SPRING, MD
“To strengthen our buildings and provide significant savings to our builders we specify full height Windstorm panels. We found this to meet the high wind codes we faced on the East Coast and to be a much better method than piecing 8' board.”
THOMAS E. BEITELMAN, M.S. P.E. S.I., OF SOUND STRUCTURES ENGINEERING, INC., IN TALLAHASSEE, FL
"Specifying Windstorm simplifies the engineering design calculation time that can be better spent on more critical aspects of the typical job.
A common problem I encounter with stud to plate connectors occurs at the inspection process when correction of the stud plate tie installation requires significant reconstruction. Windstorm sheathing and nail spacing alone reduces the errors
Windstorm performs without the necessity of stud plate ties, as the portion of the “Continuous Loud Path” from the top to bottom of the walls
It is advantageous to the builder to save time and money by eliminating the need for stud plate ties."
FRAMERS:
EFIGENIO CONTRARAS OF E C CONSTRUCTION
“I use the Windstorm 109 1/8" panels on 100% of my houses as a builder/framer. I save about 1 1/2 days labor per job and without the Windstorm panels would charge the builder about 35 cents per square foot for materials and labor to install stud/plate uplift hardware.”
TRAVIS WOOLLEY A FRAMING CONTRACTOR FROM MOBILE AL TOLD US,
“Windstorm wall sheathing from Norbord saves the framing contractor time and money. We are able to save twelve to sixteen man-hours when framing with Windstorm panels. Windstorm panels span the full height of the wall allowing us to cover both plates and nail to the engineer's specified pattern. This eliminates the time spent installing blocking and costly wall uplift strapping. Windstorm panels from Norbord definitely make our job easier and faster.”
JODY WOLFE CONSTRUCTION, IS ONE OF THE LEAD FRAMERS FOR TEXAS HOME DEVELOPMENT.
“Using Windstorm 109 1/8" panels saves me the labor of using 2 men one entire day to cut and install horizontal blocking and install stud/plate uplift hardware. Also, I save about $70 per house on the 2,000 nails required to attach the uplift hardware.”
