Blueboard over triple grips?

[Ammater]

Hi everyone,

I am building an extension clad with blueboard - I am at the stage of building the frame, and the plans say to anchor top/bottom plates and studs with triple grips. My concern is that when applying the external cladding (FC sheet) it will "bulge" where it sits over these connectors - obviously not by much, but still it wont be a flush fit. Am I missing something or is there a trick to avoid this problem?

[ringtail]

Not normally done that way. Wall framing is either strapped with GI strap and tensioners or ply bracing or normally a combination of the two. Triple grips (amongst other things) are normally only used for the roof tie down, decking etc... Given the fact that the blue board will be rendered any way you dont normally notice any bulges. I'd go back to the designer for clarification

[r3nov8or]

Like ringtail I would suggest getting clarification. The AS mentions strapping over the plate to each side of the studs adjacent to a wall bracing strap. But whatever the situation it is likely to require some sort of strapping or plate to the outside of the frame. You will find that you can hammer the strap/plate/grip 'into' (pretty much flush with) the surface of the framing timber, especially if you are framing with pine, so it will not foul the blueboard much at all, and the render will do the rest.

Tip for blueboard - make sure you use wide studs, or better still double stud, where you expect the blueboard edges to meet. The better the support the edges have, the less likely you are to experience longer term issues like cracking under stress/movement.

[ringtail]

Good point. I normally run double studs every 1200 ctrs or a 90 x 45 in line. The double stud is better though I reckon

[Ammater]

Thanks muchly for the advice - I thought that triple grips were a strange specification. Given that I have to bolt the frame to the floor anyway I thought bolting with right angle brackets top and bottom might even work , ie bolt top plate to stud, stud to bottom plate through bearer. It would be certainly stronger than gal strap albeit more expensive. Also would not result in my wall face being interrupted. Is this just a stupid idea?

[ringtail]

Nah dont bother doing that, it will drive you mad. Go back to the designer and ask him to design the tie down properly using conventional methods that have been used in the industry for years. Why are you bolting the frame to the floor ? Just shoot the bottom plate into the floor joists or even batten screw the bottom plate to the floor joists if you are that concerned

[r3nov8or]

i tie down with hoop iron, wrapping the bottom plate to the bearer or joist, adjacent to the studs closest to the start and end of diagonal bracing, and at least every 1200mm otherwise. it only takes a couple of minutes for each tie.