When All Else Seems Warped, Your House Frame Doesn’t Have To Be

16 Apr

Building a brand new home for yourself and your family can be one of the most rewarding projects you tackle. Still, brand new homes come with brand new problems, and quality control throughout the process often falls short. If you’ve hired a reputable builder and discussed your expectations, you’ve done so much for your future home already. But the building process has countless tiny details to be attended to throughout. If you familiarize yourself with these details in advance and learn what to watch out for, you’ll save yourself the heartache and expense that comes from overlooked details and dangerous mismanagement.

One of the first and most important materials needed for your new home is lumber. Since this becomes the frame of the house, it’s delivered very early, and in large quantities. Though warped or damaged wood may be rejected, subcontractors rarely think twice before using moldy wood. If you spot this issue upon delivery, you should ask for replacement pieces. You are entitled to what you paid for - new and clean wood for a strong frame. If possible, check the delivery yourself, or send a proxy to make sure your work crew knows that moldy wood is not acceptable or safe long term

The Best Platform?

Generally, when lumber is delivered to a construction site, there’s no clean platform to leave it on. It’s standard for the lumber to be left on uncovered ground. If it rains or snows while your framework lumber sits on the ground, the lumber becomes muddy and waterlogged; the perfect habitat for mold to thrive. To avoid costly damage, request that your construction site have an elevated platform - such as pallets - for the lumber to be set upon. You may want to remind your builder that this will save them the hassle of replacing pieces later, and the cost of labor to swap out damaged lumber that may have been installed.

Cover Your Bases…

Would you ever build your home, but leave off the roof? Absolutely not. In the same way, you shouldn’t leave the lumber for your home exposed either. The wood pile should always be covered with a tarp to protect it from the effects of weather. If you don’t catch it before the frame of your home is built, do a quality check before the walls and floors are enclosed, and address any issues before it’s too late.

If the frame of your home is moldy or damp, its structure is compromised and the spread of mold throughout your home is guaranteed. From start to finish, the construction of your home should be cared for as thoughtfully as your completed home will be. To keep you and your family safe in the future, take the extra steps now to make sure your lumber is clean and quality.