SHORT-FORM SPECIFICATIONS - 22
Copyright 2003 by Herman R. Hoyer, PE, FCSI, CCS
In my last Column, No. 21, I promised to revisit my Quality Assurance Section with some important observations of its contents, which we haven't already covered. For this column, I want to cover protection of wood framing and other wood products from moisture--a very important quality assurance requirement.
In this instance, Paragraph F. below, "Protection of Wood," has nothing to do with the short-form mode of specifying. In fact, the exact same language is in my long-form specifications, which is another illustration of the fact that I never leave out anything important from my short-form specifications.
This paragraph has to do with the fact that wood should never be allowed to get wet. The worst thing that can happen to a wood-framed building is for the wood framing and sheathing to be rained on before it is protected by roofing and siding. And then, before the wood framing has a chance to dry out, it is enclosed with exterior and interior finishes, such as exterior stucco and interior gypsum board.
When wet wood is physically confined, as it is when enclosed with exterior and interior finishes, stresses caused by shrinkage during drying cannot be freely released. This causes tensions resulting in checks and twists, splits, cracks, and deformations in the wood. As the wood continues to dry, tensions increase resulting in cracks in the stucco and drywall nails to pop, not to mention wood warped out of plumb and level.
At the Class-Action Suit brought by the homeowners against the Developer of a housing tract in the Westborough District of South San Francisco (60 wood-framed houses stood naked in the heavy rains of 1972-1973.), some homeowners testified to the fact that they were often awakened in the middle of the night by ear-piercing cracking sounds coming from within the walls and ceilings of their homes. Others complained of hearing more subtle ghostly noises, punctuated occasionally by squeaky creaks.
Needless to say, wet wood must be avoided at all costs. Here is my "Protection of Wood" paragraph as it appears in my Quality Assurance Section. You should consider adding this same text to your specifications where wood framing or other wood products are involved.
F.Protection of Wood:
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Provide protection of all wood materials and products, whether or not installed, including erected and installed wood framing and sheathing, from water and moisture of any kind until completion and acceptance of the Project.
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The Contractor shall keep informed of weather conditions and forecasts and, where there is a likelihood of rain, shall protect installed and exposed framing and sheathing and stored lumber exposed to the elements with suitable water-repellent covering, such as canvas tarpaulins or polyethylene sheeting.
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Likewise, millwork and trim, paneling, cabinets, shelving, and other products manufactured from wood shall be kept under cover and dry at the shop until time for delivery. Such materials shall not be delivered to the site until the building is roofed, and the exterior walls are sheathed and protected with building paper as a minimum, the doors and windows are installed and glazed, and there is ample interior storage space for such materials and products. Delivery shall not occur during periods of rain, heavy dew, and fog.
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Wood materials or products which become wet from rain, dew, fog, or other source will be considered to have moisture damage and will be rejected, requiring replacement by the Contractor with new, dry materials or products at no increase in the Contract Price. Excepted materials: installed exterior wood siding, exterior wood trim, exterior wood doors, and exterior wood windows, after specified treatments, such as exterior wood stain or paint, have been applied.
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Compensation for wood protection materials and services will be provided on a unit-price basis. Include in the Bid Form and Agreement a unit price for providing the above specified protection, each occurrence. Include as an exhibit to the Owner-Contractor Agtreement.
If your specifications contain a unit-price section, then the following reference may be all that is necessary:
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Refer to Section 01270, Unit Prices, for compensation provisions.
My next column will be a surprise, since I am not sure yet what the subject will be. But I’m sure it will be provocative.