[ucodegen]

[quote=bearishgurl]ucodegen, pardon me if I missed it but, are you a civil engineer? You seem very knowledgeable.[/quote]
My father was a general contractor. I put myself through college by building houses (4 of them) in an earthquake zone (near Tujunga, CA). I also helped with maintaining and modifying(additions, etc) the house I grew up in. I guess you could say I was a technically precocious kid (did my first unsupervised water pump replacement on a 1963 Buick Skylark at 12yrs old).

I have an EE/CE degree, though I also have a fairly strong Physics background (was originally going for Physics – but changed majors mid-way).

[ucodegen]

[quote=bearishgurl]ucodegen, pardon me if I missed it but, are you a civil engineer? You seem very knowledgeable.[/quote]
My father was a general contractor. I put myself through college by building houses (4 of them) in an earthquake zone (near Tujunga, CA). I also helped with maintaining and modifying(additions, etc) the house I grew up in. I guess you could say I was a technically precocious kid (did my first unsupervised water pump replacement on a 1963 Buick Skylark at 12yrs old).

I have an EE/CE degree, though I also have a fairly strong Physics background (was originally going for Physics – but changed majors mid-way).

[ucodegen]

[quote=bearishgurl]ucodegen, pardon me if I missed it but, are you a civil engineer? You seem very knowledgeable.[/quote]
My father was a general contractor. I put myself through college by building houses (4 of them) in an earthquake zone (near Tujunga, CA). I also helped with maintaining and modifying(additions, etc) the house I grew up in. I guess you could say I was a technically precocious kid (did my first unsupervised water pump replacement on a 1963 Buick Skylark at 12yrs old).

I have an EE/CE degree, though I also have a fairly strong Physics background (was originally going for Physics – but changed majors mid-way).

[ucodegen]

[quote=UCGal]Scarlett –
Our house (one of your target areas – UC) was built in 1963. It had copper pipes for both supply and waste.[/quote]
Copper lines for waste too?? Geesh.. not supposed to use copper on wastelines because it corrodes too easily. Supposed to be cast iron or ABS. I believe that is also written into building codes.

[quote=UCGal]We also have upgraded/earthquake-retrofitted sections. This is much less of an issue in a single story house per my husband. If he opens a wall to do anything (add a new outlet, run some new wire/cables) he goes ahead and opens an entire section – adds diagonal bracing, adds insulation (if it’s an exterior wall), if it’s ground floor he adds more bolts to the foundation and strapping to the upper floors. When he replaces the wall he’s opened up, he uses plywood to give it sheer wall stiffness.

This is all probably overkill – he’s doing more than current earthquake standards. But it makes him sleep better at night. To paraphrase the old saying “happy husband, happy life”.[/quote]
Actually much of it is required for new construction. The between floor strapping is generally only required in tornado zones though. He doesn’t need to add diagonal bracing if he is puts 4×8 sheets of plywood in when closing up.

It looks like your husband is paying attention to some research on the subject, because strapping is recommended for over-code construction in earthquake zones.

[ucodegen]

[quote=UCGal]Scarlett –
Our house (one of your target areas – UC) was built in 1963. It had copper pipes for both supply and waste.[/quote]
Copper lines for waste too?? Geesh.. not supposed to use copper on wastelines because it corrodes too easily. Supposed to be cast iron or ABS. I believe that is also written into building codes.

[quote=UCGal]We also have upgraded/earthquake-retrofitted sections. This is much less of an issue in a single story house per my husband. If he opens a wall to do anything (add a new outlet, run some new wire/cables) he goes ahead and opens an entire section – adds diagonal bracing, adds insulation (if it’s an exterior wall), if it’s ground floor he adds more bolts to the foundation and strapping to the upper floors. When he replaces the wall he’s opened up, he uses plywood to give it sheer wall stiffness.

This is all probably overkill – he’s doing more than current earthquake standards. But it makes him sleep better at night. To paraphrase the old saying “happy husband, happy life”.[/quote]
Actually much of it is required for new construction. The between floor strapping is generally only required in tornado zones though. He doesn’t need to add diagonal bracing if he is puts 4×8 sheets of plywood in when closing up.

It looks like your husband is paying attention to some research on the subject, because strapping is recommended for over-code construction in earthquake zones.

[ucodegen]

[quote=UCGal]Scarlett –
Our house (one of your target areas – UC) was built in 1963. It had copper pipes for both supply and waste.[/quote]
Copper lines for waste too?? Geesh.. not supposed to use copper on wastelines because it corrodes too easily. Supposed to be cast iron or ABS. I believe that is also written into building codes.

[quote=UCGal]We also have upgraded/earthquake-retrofitted sections. This is much less of an issue in a single story house per my husband. If he opens a wall to do anything (add a new outlet, run some new wire/cables) he goes ahead and opens an entire section – adds diagonal bracing, adds insulation (if it’s an exterior wall), if it’s ground floor he adds more bolts to the foundation and strapping to the upper floors. When he replaces the wall he’s opened up, he uses plywood to give it sheer wall stiffness.

This is all probably overkill – he’s doing more than current earthquake standards. But it makes him sleep better at night. To paraphrase the old saying “happy husband, happy life”.[/quote]
Actually much of it is required for new construction. The between floor strapping is generally only required in tornado zones though. He doesn’t need to add diagonal bracing if he is puts 4×8 sheets of plywood in when closing up.

It looks like your husband is paying attention to some research on the subject, because strapping is recommended for over-code construction in earthquake zones.

[ucodegen]

[quote=UCGal]Scarlett –
Our house (one of your target areas – UC) was built in 1963. It had copper pipes for both supply and waste.[/quote]
Copper lines for waste too?? Geesh.. not supposed to use copper on wastelines because it corrodes too easily. Supposed to be cast iron or ABS. I believe that is also written into building codes.

[quote=UCGal]We also have upgraded/earthquake-retrofitted sections. This is much less of an issue in a single story house per my husband. If he opens a wall to do anything (add a new outlet, run some new wire/cables) he goes ahead and opens an entire section – adds diagonal bracing, adds insulation (if it’s an exterior wall), if it’s ground floor he adds more bolts to the foundation and strapping to the upper floors. When he replaces the wall he’s opened up, he uses plywood to give it sheer wall stiffness.

This is all probably overkill – he’s doing more than current earthquake standards. But it makes him sleep better at night. To paraphrase the old saying “happy husband, happy life”.[/quote]
Actually much of it is required for new construction. The between floor strapping is generally only required in tornado zones though. He doesn’t need to add diagonal bracing if he is puts 4×8 sheets of plywood in when closing up.

It looks like your husband is paying attention to some research on the subject, because strapping is recommended for over-code construction in earthquake zones.

[ucodegen]

[quote=UCGal]Scarlett –
Our house (one of your target areas – UC) was built in 1963. It had copper pipes for both supply and waste.[/quote]
Copper lines for waste too?? Geesh.. not supposed to use copper on wastelines because it corrodes too easily. Supposed to be cast iron or ABS. I believe that is also written into building codes.

[quote=UCGal]We also have upgraded/earthquake-retrofitted sections. This is much less of an issue in a single story house per my husband. If he opens a wall to do anything (add a new outlet, run some new wire/cables) he goes ahead and opens an entire section – adds diagonal bracing, adds insulation (if it’s an exterior wall), if it’s ground floor he adds more bolts to the foundation and strapping to the upper floors. When he replaces the wall he’s opened up, he uses plywood to give it sheer wall stiffness.

This is all probably overkill – he’s doing more than current earthquake standards. But it makes him sleep better at night. To paraphrase the old saying “happy husband, happy life”.[/quote]
Actually much of it is required for new construction. The between floor strapping is generally only required in tornado zones though. He doesn’t need to add diagonal bracing if he is puts 4×8 sheets of plywood in when closing up.

It looks like your husband is paying attention to some research on the subject, because strapping is recommended for over-code construction in earthquake zones.

[ucodegen]

[quote=briansd1]ucodegen, what do you think of crosslinked PEX plumbing vs. copper?

I like the central distribution hub

http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Plumbing/cross-linked-polyethylene-pex%5B/quote%5D
I tend to prefer copper.. but if I was in an area subject to freezing, I would consider PEX. There are many things that you have to watch out for in PEX installations.

[ucodegen]

[quote=briansd1]ucodegen, what do you think of crosslinked PEX plumbing vs. copper?

I like the central distribution hub

http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Plumbing/cross-linked-polyethylene-pex%5B/quote%5D
I tend to prefer copper.. but if I was in an area subject to freezing, I would consider PEX. There are many things that you have to watch out for in PEX installations.

[ucodegen]

[quote=briansd1]ucodegen, what do you think of crosslinked PEX plumbing vs. copper?

I like the central distribution hub

http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Plumbing/cross-linked-polyethylene-pex%5B/quote%5D
I tend to prefer copper.. but if I was in an area subject to freezing, I would consider PEX. There are many things that you have to watch out for in PEX installations.

[ucodegen]

[quote=briansd1]ucodegen, what do you think of crosslinked PEX plumbing vs. copper?

I like the central distribution hub

http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Plumbing/cross-linked-polyethylene-pex%5B/quote%5D
I tend to prefer copper.. but if I was in an area subject to freezing, I would consider PEX. There are many things that you have to watch out for in PEX installations.

[ucodegen]

[quote=briansd1]ucodegen, what do you think of crosslinked PEX plumbing vs. copper?

I like the central distribution hub

http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Plumbing/cross-linked-polyethylene-pex%5B/quote%5D
I tend to prefer copper.. but if I was in an area subject to freezing, I would consider PEX. There are many things that you have to watch out for in PEX installations.

[ucodegen]

Best that I can remember the diffs.

1960’s

[ucodegen]

Best that I can remember the diffs.

1960’s

May need earthquake retro.

Old wiring.

Probably galvanized piping instead of copper (can get plugged up with calcium salts)

Watch out for work where both copper and galvanized is used (dissimilar metals create galvanic action which corrodes the pipe)

Possibly real roughsawn 2x4s

Possibly Lath and Plaster vs wallboard (quieter house, improves insulation).

Fiberglass insulation standards are not a good.

1970’s late

Some earthquake retro may be needed.

Switch from Lath & Plaster to wallboard.

Construction started switching over to copper piping, watch out for flexible plastic plumbing – it was at its infancy and had problems. Type often used was polybutylene(PB)

2x4s no longer 2″ by 4″.

Slight insulation requirement improvement, windows still a problem

Start of large scale housing dev, keep an eye on manufacturer defect patterns on developments

1980s

Earthquake retro needs may be limited to how waterheaters are mounted etc.

Large scale housing dev, keep an eye on manufacturer defect patterns on developments.

Because of problems of PEX plumbing, fewer manufacturers used it from this point on. Watch out for ‘do-it-yourself-ers’ though.

Shear-walls went from angled 1x12s to 4×8 plywood sheets, particularly on lower floors of multi-story. Significant improvement on rigidity/shear strength/earthquake resistance

Starting to see pre-stressed concrete garage floors, prevents cracks but do not drill into them.

1990s

Start of ‘imported’ cheaper labor – with all that it brings.

Large scale housing dev, keep an eye on manufacturer defect patterns on developments.

Improved insulation requirements.

Almost entire outside of house is now ‘wrapped’ as a shear-wall.

Pre-stressed concrete garage floors, prevents cracks but do not drill into them.

Improvements in flexible plastic plumbing. Transition to Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX). One advantage of plastic plumbing is that it is more resistant to breakage under freezing conditions. On the other hand, doing it right is an issue – too many amateurs.

More info on Polybutylene(PB) plumbing:

Polybutylene has been involved in several major class action settlements.

Over a billion dollars has been paid from settlement funds.

Some hazard insurance companies will no longer insure homes piped with this product.

Some home warranty companies exclude PB leaks from coverage

There is more.. but gotta get working on some other stuff right now..

[Author]

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