New Home Contructed Entirely in the Rain (Dallas, Howe: hardwood floors, homebuyer)

[justsomegal]

Hi -

I am in desperate need of sound construction knowledge. As everyone in the Dallas area knows, it has been raining for 3 months, and in the past 3 weeks it has poured at least once a day over my new construction. I wasn't worried about the frame, roof and exterior walls. I went into full-blown panic mode when I discovered, one evening, that my builder had taken advantage of a rainless afternoon and applied the housewrap and siding to the wet plywood. Most people I have painted this picture for seem to think the plywood (or OSB, not sure) will somehow miraculously dry, all covered up like that. I don't see how when, even when it isn't raining, it's like, 85% humidity. I also believe the windows and doors were installed *before* the housewrap, not after like it is supposed to be.

[rantanamo]

theoretically these materials should be fine as they are treated and in some cases made to be waterproof. Drywall would be a different story.

[justsomegal]

All the online info I can find says that these materials can withstand *some* water, but not a ton of abuse. I feel my new home has been fairly abused.

[KBilly]

Frist of all, Tyvek and similar wraps are breathable, so that should not be a worry. The OSB can dry that way.

However, I would be concerned about two things:

1) How were the windows flashed if the Tyvek was put in before they were?
2) How wet was the OSB when the windows went in? When the OSB dries there is likely to be shrinkage, which in turn could affect the window bucks (i.e. the framing the window sashes are mounted to).

[KantLockeMeIn]

If they put drywall up with wet framing, expect nail pops all over the place. Also, hardwood floors or tile floors on a wet subfloor can buckle or crack.

[justsomegal]

Originally Posted by KBilly

Frist of all, Tyvek and similar wraps are breathable, so that should not be a worry. The OSB can dry that way.

However, I would be concerned about two things:

1) How were the windows flashed if the Tyvek was put in before they were?
2) How wet was the OSB when the windows went in? When the OSB dries there is likely to be shrinkage, which in turn could affect the window bucks (i.e. the framing the window sashes are mounted to).

Good points. And I was wrong about the Tyvek. Sorry, I'm a first-time homebuyer and know nothing about construction. I went up last night and saw that what they put on the soaking wet plywood was Dens... something Silver Sheathing. There doesn't seem to be any housewrap, just shingles on top of the sheathing. So my problem remains the same: How bad is it to put the sheathing on wet plywood?

[jcl_cls01]

I would get a home inspector out there as soon as possible to see what he/she would say.

[loves2read]

definitely think you need to get someone who knows construction to view what is going on--even without the rain/moisture issue--to install windows before tyvek just defeats its purpose and shows little knowledge of WHY it is being used...

[onrway2clt]

who is the builder?

[justsomegal]

Originally Posted by jcl_cls01

I would get a home inspector out there as soon as possible to see what he/she would say.

Well, I found a very highly recommended inspector, known for being thorough and honest, and he won't come near my house!!! I guess that should be my answer right there. He was going to call me, then he just disappeared.