Underground Power is Run and Insulation Behind Tub and Shower

The rough-in electric was run earlier, but the carpenters pulled out some of his wires. So I was surprised to see they put in the underground power line today.

At first I couldn’t figure out what had happened. There was grading that didn’t seem to make any sense. It looked like our neighbor had scraped part of their new lawn across our construction driveway. Then I realized that the scraped up area started at the power pole. The power company dug up their new grass to put in our power.

Earlier I had wondered why we will have underground power instead of overhead lines like everyone else in the neighborhood. I found out it is because we are near an underground facility. If a house is near a transformer for underground power distribution, the house is served by an underground service cable. It was on the Duke Power website.

So the power company has dug the ditch and installed the power line and connected at the meter box. I wasn’t here to see it, but I was told they dug up to the gutter pipes with a trencher, then hand dug under the pipes.

It can’t be hooked up yet, because the wiring isn’t done. So, for now, we are still on temporary power.

Other Changes

There is new lumber in the garage. I am guessing it is to build the thing that holds up the bath tub. Maybe also for the island bar in the kitchen. We’ll see.

They put insulation in the wall in the master bath where the soaker tub will be.

They also installed insulation behind the tub/shower in the guest bath.

Behind the shower they put up OX Engineered Products Build Strong Thermo Ply Structural Sheathing. It is an air barrier. Interested? This is what it is.

Thermo-Ply Red/Red AMG Standard Structural Grade 0.113” thickness

Advanced moisture and damage resistance
This sheathing provides an efficient water resistant barrier and best-in-class air barrier.

It lists as one of the applications: Air barrier behind shower units and other internal sheathing applications that require a thin air-barrier or draft stop.

Strong Walls

Composed of pressure laminated plies consisting of high-strength cellulosic fibers. Fibers are specially treated to be water resistant and are bonded with a proprietary water-resistant adhesive. A protective polymer layer is applied on both sides of the panel, and foil facings may be applied on one or both faces.

Strong Water Resistance and Air Barrier

• Factory-extrusion coating for built-in Water Resistive Barrier with (min.)overlapped joints OR taped joints.
• Air tight seal to studs reduces air leakage and provides best-in-class air barrier.
• AMG (Advanced Moisture Guard) option provides adhesive with the overlap.
• Provides self-adhesive overlap panel joints for even tighter water and air barrier performance.

Strong Environment

• Free of Harmful chemicals, VOC-free and no toxic bonding agents
• No added asphalts, formaldehyde, phenols or CFCs
• Made from 94% recycled fibers and is 99% recyclable

Strong Competitive Edge and Bottom Line

• Stable Pricing
• Thermo-ply grades to fit needs all over the house: In addition to exterior wall sheathing, consider using Thermo-ply as an air barrier in internal sheathing applications that require a thin air-barrier or draft stop.
• Temporary surface protector for floors and countertops.
• Light-weight, durable and easy installation
• Custom sizes and private label
• Made in USA

Building Code Requirement for Air Barrier at Tub and Shower

Walls Behind Showers and Tubs

Scope
Install an air barrier behind showers and tubs installed on exterior walls.

• Install insulation without misalignments, compressions, gaps, or voids in all exterior wall cavities behind tubs and showers.
• Cover the wall cavities with a rigid air barrier or other supporting material to prevent cavity insulation from sagging and to create a continuous thermal barrier.
• Seal all seams, gaps, and holes in the air barrier with caulk or foam before tub/shower installation. Rigid air barrier materials for use behind showers and tubs include fiber-cement, fiber-reinforced gypsum, glass mat gypsum, or fiber mat-reinforced cementitous backer panels. See the guide [WM.4.2] Moisture-Resistant Backing Material at Walls Behind Tubs and Showers for more information.