My foreman in Denver told me to always use a 3/8 inch joint for exterior walls, but I switched to a 1/2 inch after a few harsh winters.

The bigger joint holds up way better to the freeze-thaw cycles out here. Anyone else adjust their specs for their local climate?

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona5022mo ago

That point about adjusting for freeze-thaw cycles is so true. It's like how you use a different motor oil in Arizona than you do in Minnesota. The best practice isn't always universal, it's what works where you actually are. Builders who just follow the book without looking outside get caught out.

vale192mo ago

Ever try to follow a recipe exactly and it just doesn't work at your altitude? I mean, I once tried to build a shed using generic online plans and the roof almost folded in half after our first big snow. Sometimes the book is just a starting point, you gotta know when to add your own notes.

william9171mo ago

Totally get what @vale19 is saying. It's like people forget that instructions are written for an average place that doesn't exist. You see it with car advice, gardening tips, everything.