ᐅ Sheathing of the timber frame in a prefabricated house

Hello,

We have a Massa Haus prefabricated timber frame house. Currently, a drywall contractor is installing the wall panels. According to Massa Haus, the wall structure is as follows:

Interior walls:
- Timber studs 10cm (4 inches)
- 40mm (1.6 inches) insulation between studs
- Bottom layer: 12.5mm (0.5 inches) Fermacell boards
- Top layer: 12.5mm (0.5 inches) gypsum board

Exterior walls:
- Timber studs 16cm (6.3 inches)
- 160mm (6.3 inches) insulation between studs
- Bottom layer: 12.5mm (0.5 inches) Fermacell boards
- Vapor retarder with SD value = 100
- Top layer: 12.5mm (0.5 inches) gypsum board

Our drywall contractor is currently installing the first layer on the interior walls with Fermacell boards. The spacing of the timber studs is uneven, varying between 20cm and 55cm (8 and 22 inches). We have noticed that the Fermacell boards are not cut and fixed flush with the studs; in some places, the boards extend approximately 20cm (8 inches) beyond the studs.

When we asked the drywall contractor, they said this is not a problem with double-layer boarding and that an overhang of up to 30cm (12 inches) is acceptable. However, we have never seen this before and cannot find any information online on whether this is an acceptable practice.

Is this installation method compliant, or should we request that it be corrected?

Thank you very much.

EddyDeluxe schrieb:

Our drywall contractor is currently installing the first layer of the interior walls with Fermacell boards. The spacing between the wooden studs is not uniform but varies between 20cm and 55cm (8 inches and 22 inches).

Do I understand correctly that even the non-load-bearing interior walls were left open on one side by the house manufacturer as part of their delivery and fastening? And when you say spacing, you hopefully mean the gap (625 minus 76 mm), with the "20 cm" sections being headers?

EddyDeluxe schrieb:

As we have seen, the Fermacell boards are not cut and fastened flush with the wooden studs; in some areas the Fermacell boards protrude by about 20cm (8 inches). [...]
Is this acceptable workmanship, or should we insist on corrections?

What are those terrible holes supposed to be—does the drywall contractor intend to rivet the boards?
No, this is not professional. However, the contractor will probably not be able to provide a satisfactory technical correction (which you will unfortunately have to allow them the chance to do first). I don’t even need a shred of construction knowledge to recognize that this guy hasn’t watched a single drywall tutorial video. This is a sad joke—where did you find him?
It’s clearly a case of unplanned work, and this "drywall contractor" (I never thought I’d have to put that in quotation marks!) obviously seems to be skilled mainly in making poor excuses.

A warning for all homeowners at this point: drywall installation is one of the trades that does not legally require master certification. As a result, you will often find many general laborers instead of skilled craftsmen. Unfortunately, clients should be prepared to have to teach the contractor the necessary fundamental knowledge first!

The correct method is to start fastening at the center of a stud, using a proper fastening system! The second layer should then be staggered accordingly (so the joints do not line up over studs 1-3-5 but instead over 2-4-6, and so on).

I hope you at least followed the correct sequence, and the electrician isn’t still due to come afterward 🙂

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I also think the screws have been countersunk a bit too deep... if it weren't sad, it would be funny :-(

i_b_n_a_n schrieb:

It also seems to me that the screws have been countersunk a bit too deep.

It looks to me especially like the holes were pre-drilled from the back...

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