| Features and Benefits |
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Minding The Gaps
Air infiltration around windows and doors can easily be addressed, but what about the horizontal joints in wall sheathing? Spacing structural panels is an installation requirement, but the resulting horizontal gaps permit air infiltration, even when factoring in house wrap with taped seams, because house wrap is designed to breathe. |
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A Big, Money-Eating Hole In The Wall
The majority of today’s new homes are built with 9’ or 10’ ceilings, resulting in an increase in horizontal joints when standard wall sheathing is used. The gaps created are too often considered a necessary evil and left as is, or must be caulked at additional cost in order to meet standards and make the structure more airtight. But all those small gaps taken together can add up to over four square feet of open space through which air enters the home – and the homeowner’s money exits. |
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How TallWall Reduces Air Leakage
TallWall offers an easy, efficient way to eliminate unnecessary horizontal joints altogether, thus significantly reducing wall air leakage. Available in 9’ and 10’ lengths, vertical seams are located directly over studs. Problem solved. Best of all, TallWall presents no unusual installation issues and requires no special training of trades.
But don’t take our word for it. |
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Take The NAHB Research Center's Word
Norbord recently asked the NAHB Research Center to conduct air leakage tests that compared TallWall wall sheathing to standard 4x8 panels. The tests were conducted in the Center’s E283/E331 chamber, according to ASTM E283 test methods. |
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Pressure Testing For Air Leakage
Two test walls over 8’ tall were built using drywall, tape, joint compound, insulation, with one electrical outlet (on the inside) and an electrical wire running through the studs. One wall was built with horizontally installed 4x8 panels, the other with vertically installed TallWall panels. Each wall was then tested using three different pressure differentials (.01, .02, and .03 H2O SCFM). House wrap was then installed (according to manufacturer’s specifications) with one vertical joint, and the same three pressure tests were conducted. A final three pressure tests were completed after installing seam tape (according to manufacturer’s specifications) over the joint in the house wrap. |
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| Air Leakage Testing at NAHB Research Center to Compare 4x8 Installed Horizontally to TallWall |
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at .1" H20 |
at .2" H20 |
at .3" H20 |
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%Decrease using TallWall |
%Decrease using TallWall |
%Decrease using TallWall |
| Base Wall* |
-38% |
-47% |
-43% |
| With House Wrap** |
-29% |
-15% |
-22% |
| With House Wrap and Taped*** |
-56% |
-64% |
-63% |
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| * |
Base Wall horizontally installed 4x8s, all joints spaced 1/8", vertical joints on studs, 2x4 studs, fibreglass insulation, drywall taped and joint compound |
| ** |
House Wrap was installed per manufactures specs over the 4x8s with one vertical joint overlapped but not taped |
| *** |
House Wrap vertical joint was taped and the test repeated |
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| All the same test repeated with TallWall panels installed vertically with vertial joints over studs and spaced 1/8" apart |
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Conclusion: TallWall Reduced Air Leakage By Up To 60%
Whether the test wall had no house wrap, house wrap or house wrap with taped seams, the tests revealed a sharp reduction in air leakage – up to 60% compared to 4x8 panels installed horizontally under the same conditions. |
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| Make cost effectiveness your key to going green |
| Change the game on your next project. Specify TallWall wall sheathing by name. TallWall is certified by the NAHB Research Center as an “Approved Green Product” for use in the National Green Building Standard. Copies if the certificate and the applicable practice #’s are available in the Building Sustainably section. |
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| TallWall is available from your local building supply dealer, and is also available with FSC or SFI Chain of Custody Certification. |
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Our Strength In Numbers
Norbord also commissioned researchers at Virginia Tech to test TallWall’s structural qualities. The tests clearly showed that TallWall panels installed vertically to overlap joist areas increased wall strength by up to 38%. For builders, that greater strength means a stronger structure, plus fewer callbacks for problems like nail pops and drywall cracks. |
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Stronger, Stiffer, and Flatter Walls
| Capacity (compared to 4x8 panels) |
| 4x10 TallWall |
on 9' walls |
>+35% |
| 4x9 TallWall |
on 8' walls |
>+22% |
| Stiffness (compared to 4x8 panels) |
| 4x10 TallWall |
on 9' walls |
>+24% |
| 4x9 TallWall |
on 8' walls |
>+31% |
| Displacement (compared to 4x8 panels) |
| 4x10 TallWall |
on 9' walls |
>+38% |
| 4x9 TallWall |
on 8' walls |
>+22% |
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A Simple Switch
Norbord makes building a tighter, stronger envelope simply a matter of switching to TallWall sheathing. In fact, TallWall can actually save you labor and material costs while simplifying the application of wall sheathing. |
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Homeowner benefits
TallWall delivers a higher quality build, reduced utility costs, improved comfort, better indoor air quality and higher resale value – and it can do all that while helping to meet the home buyer’s green objectives. |
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Builder Benefits
Your trades are already comfortable with OSB, meaning the switch to TallWall can speed up construction right away. It’s easy to install, is available in 9’ and 10’ lengths, meets building codes and can contribute points to green building programs such as LEED and the National Green Building Standard. TallWall can even reduce your material handling, cutting and waste costs.
TallWall is available with FSC or SFI CoC
Click here to access the TallWall Green Build Sheet
Click here to access the TallWall Brochure
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Click here to access the SFI (Sustainable Foresty Initiative) website
Click here to access the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) website
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End Uses
TallWall is engineered specifically to be used for wall applications only and is not to be used for roof or floor sheathing. |
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| Click here to access the new Norbord TallWall OSB product website |
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| Click here to access the Pro Sales Sales Strategies: The Case for TallWall OSB White Paper |
