Brother asked a question I'm stumped on

[remagenman]

He lives in California and was building a large pool cabana with walls on 2 sides and was told by the inspector that his nails were not flush and too countersunk. This for the most part finished structure was already built by his initial home remodeling crew a few years ago.

There are about 20 sheets of plywood, not cheap nowadays if he has to pull them all out and do it all over, so.....

-can he just caulk the old nails and correctly nail in flush nails? So instead of 6" apart there will be nails 3" apart, new and old nails.

-try to gently hammer the sheathing from inside pushing the nails out and re-hammering them flush?

-or is he just SOL?

Thanks.

 

[Daveyclimber]

Probably just need to sink new nails without blowing them in with a nail gun. Too much penetration im guessing,

 

[Git]

This would probably answer a lot of your questions:

https://www.sbcindustry.com/system/.../pdf/1186/educationpptoverdrivenfasteners.pdf

Safest way to find out how to fix the problem would be to ask the building inspector. I know some of them can be real a holes, but there are also some of them that are generally trying to help

One of the problems you may run into, is the minimum required spacing between fasteners and you may have to use staples instead of nails to fix the problem. Again, ask the building inspector if you can

 

[Renegade1LI]

Usually placing a new fastener 2" away from each existing set correctly should be fine, just check with inspector.

 

[remagenman]

This would probably answer a lot of your questions:

https://www.sbcindustry.com/system/.../pdf/1186/educationpptoverdrivenfasteners.pdf

Safest way to find out how to fix the problem would be to ask the building inspector. I know some of them can be real a holes, but there are also some of them that are generally trying to help

One of the problems you may run into, is the minimum required spacing between fasteners and you may have to use staples instead of nails to fix the problem. Again, ask the building inspector if you can

Thanks, I was reading the regs you posted and hopefully this will make sense for my bro. Unfortunately the inspector was there for a different project inspection and my bro just asked about the cabana as he was there but no solution was provided.

 

[472scout]

I know the instructions for a lot of materials like Smartside say to do just that. Caulk the overdriven nails and drive in new nails to the correct depth. I would call the inspector and tell him that's what you plan to do and is it acceptable. Asking him what to do may result in an answer you don't like.

 

[Git]

Keep in mind that too many nails into 2x material can end up splitting the wood. Shear walls have specific nailing patterns, usually staggered and the spacing various between 4" to 6" but can be as low as 2" - that's a lot of nails. Also, keep in mind this is in California where earthquake restrictions must be met

 

[nadogail]

As a California resident, I have found my local Building Inspectors to be both cooperative and respectful. They have personified "What Goes Around; Comes Around". I am aware that an Inspector can be your friend and Mentor; I also refuse to argue with them. Once I did ask if an opening in an interior wall could be called a window without glass; after a few seconds of consideration, he said "all right, I will give you that one."

Another time he told me I needed one staple on some NM cable, I said I will call for a re-inspection when I get it in, he said he will final me out; just put it in.

What I am saying is "You can catch more fiies with Honey than you can with Vinegar".

 

[Robbie B]

Only solution is to leave California.

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[Innovate1]

I don't think it was mentioned how these were nailed but often with power nailers they are overdriven. I think this is because they set the gun so it will fully drive into a hard spot so they don't have to go back and pound any down. I asked my framer to back off on the nailer a bit because the nails were driven over halfway through the OSB and it was a sheer wall with portal framing so the nailing was important. He ended up telling me I was too critical and quitting. It was just as well.

Removing or backing out the existing nails is going to tear up the sheeting. The best bet is to just drive nails between the ones already there and get those to the proper depth. Fill the overdriven nail holes and call it good.

 

[rburke65]

I would think he would have to ask the inspector....

 

[CraigStu]

I agree on the honey vs vinegar. While my garage addon was being built the small contractor was also doing a larger job. So there were times I didn't see him for a week. At one point I decided to lay some plywood in the center of the trusses for storage. Framing inspector asked if they were storage trusses and to look at the drawings. I didn't have them and contractor wasn't there. So he dug them up, called for a re-inspection, and met me at the house. Said to me to let him do most of the talking since he does this a lot, and no matter what do not argue. New inspector looked at one other item, checked it off, and asked what was this about storage? I said I just wanted to be able to get into the attic and might store Xmas decorations and similar. He looks at me and says, 'All it see up there is a catwalk so you can get to your lights and other wiring.' Check.
I may have missed it but was the cabana permitted but hasn't had it's final inspection yet? If so then do as several here have suggested. Otherwise maybe it will never come up again.

 

[John in OH]

Usually placing a new fastener 2" away from each existing set correctly should be fine, just check with inspector.

If OK with the inspector, this sounds like the simplest solution.

 

[Jackfre]

If this is in a pretty good size town he might luck out and get a different inspector who could overlook things. When I built my shop after a total re-build of the house I got to know the inspectors pretty well. There were no corners cut and he knew it, so things moved ahead smoothly. One day on the shop build we got a new guy who went over the new building with a fine tooth comb. He found one concrete anchor that was missing. My GC and I agreed to put it in, but I asked the guy if as the new guy he thought it was a good idea to be re-inspecting things that were all ready signed off by the old timers. He seemed a good guy, but he didn’t last.

 

[HaiKarate]

Only solution is to leave California.

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True but please don't pass out this advice - eventually enough folks from California will move to your state and bring their overbearing bureaucracy with them. Trust me on this one.

 

[Robbie B]

True but please don't pass out this advice - eventually enough folks from California will move to your state and bring their overbearing bureaucracy with them. Trust me on this one.

[emoji38][emoji38][emoji38]you're right. My bad.

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[jd_1138]

He probably paid that contractor tons of money, and he received sloppy craftsmanship. I would've called them out on that the first time I saw that, but your brother may not be up on this type of stuff.

Countersunk fasteners too far in will definitely weaken the holding power and can cause the wood to fracture. But yeah placing additional fasteners correctly will fix it. Hopefully inspector agrees.

I am glad I am not in California anymore. Been in Ohio 20 years and loving it. 1/5 the cost of living (with only a slight pay decrease), way less traffic and BS.

 

[remagenman]

He has had the same inspector throughout; Pool, deck (omg, making a low deck earthquake proof in California should not entail having footings strong enough to hold up the Eifel tower!) the cabana has been on the backburner and is just now getting around to finishing it but he has electrical/plumbing in it also so of course its another couple of $k's for plans, permits, etc.

Just glad I'm able to build my stuff here right under permit needed regulations!

 

[Git]

Reduction in Shear Capacity Due to Overdriven Fasteners