Codeman:
I am at my wit’s end working to convince production homebuilders that gaps in framing butt, and other, joints are poor workmanship; are the cause of what they euphemistically refer to as “normal settlement” when drywall cracks appear; and are merely the end result of corporate American trying to pass as homebuilders.
Gaps between headers and studs and other members as much as ½” in width are not uncommon. While I find code support for stud-to-plate, and rafter-to-rafter contact requirements, these requirements for joints in other framing members appear to be elusive. I have scoured the IRC, AWC, NDS, JLC Manual of Best Practices, NAHB Performance Standards, and Gypsum Association, et al., to no avail.
As we all know, builders – especially Texas builders – do not respond to anything other than a codified reference replete with the terms shall and require. Can you help with this?