Blog
Fur Strip Material (Common from generic Fur Strip) – GreenBuildingAdvisor
Replies
-
Expert Member BILL WICHERS | | #1
I see no reason, unless for some reason you want a thicker layer. If you want to upgrade from plain old SPF furring strips, I would step up to ripped strips of 3/4″ CDX plywood. Ripped strips of plywood are much less likely to split when you drive fasteners into them, which is their primary advantage over the regular furring strips. Plywood might also end up being cheaper, but you’d have the additional labor of ripping the strips from a 4×8 foot sheet.
Bill
-
Expert Member MALCOLM TAYLOR | | #2
Walt,
The only reason I can think of is if the siding you use requires more penetration for fasteners.
For me the optimum depth of a rain-screen cavity is 3/4″. Less than that and wrinkles in your WRB can bridge the gap, defeating the capillary break or blocking the cavity. More depth doesn’t really buy you anything but a larger opening at the bottom for pests to try and infiltrate.
-
idahobuild | | #3
Malcolm – yeah, we have a 3/4″ rain screen detailed in the drawing. My question is mostly based on material cost comparisons. The 1×4 Common boards about double the cost for the same nominal dimensions as Common. I suppose that the Furring boards are cheaper quality (more knots, twisting, etc.).
Bill – I did consider the 3/4″ CDX option but a 3/4 piece of ply is pretty heavy on the labor (mostly me). So, no monetary cost but certainly a physical one 🙂 Though I do like the “less splitting” pro that you presented above. But I will be predrilling and counter sinking the FastenMaster screws (1.5″ back into the studs).
-
Expert Member
MALCOLM TAYLOR | | #4
Walt,
Sorry, by “common” I took from Bill’s post you must mean 2″x boards. I’m not understanding the distinction you are making between common (graded as #1, #2, #3) and something else. Utility grade?
-
Expert Member -
Expert Member -
freyr_design | | #7
I have had luck finding 5/4 decking for pretty cheap, maybe look at that. Also depending on where you are Craigslist can be a good option at finding cheaper local lumber from mills.
-
conwaynh85 | | #8
Idahobuild,
I just went through this same issue. I ended up getting large packages of “stained” pine 1×4 for 7 cents a LF. I think your best bet is to find a local mill and buy a large package, rather than going to a retail yard buy the board. This is obviously location specific, but many lumber mills will sell lower grade lumber in large packs for much less money.