Anybody got any miracle cures, we seem to run into this atleast once a year and this time it is for major corporation's home office on their 75th anniversary. I have no idea what is behind the foam and it needs to stay up for a solid year. The banner is 4'x 20' and we have really bad winds here. Does that sound like a recipe for disaster?
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
is there any seams that you can see? I would go to a Banner website and see what they advise....Creative Banner assembles out of Minnesota put a huge banner on the roof of a Dome Stadium in Arizona..they should have a clue... www.creativebanner.com Posted by Bill Lynch (Member # 3815) on :
We have used toggle bolts with a big washer (sometimes shopmade from PVC) on the wall then the banner then another on the grommet. And we use a lot of them. When the banner comes down we fill the holes with a colored chaulk as close to buiding color as possible. I hate drivit.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
That's a tough call David. It all depends on what's behind the Dryvit and how well you can anchor to it. Maybe the client can provide you with some details or history on the building? When I worked at a shop that installed awnings, we would carry just about every type of fastener hardware imaginable - lag & toggle bolts, lead anchors and even 6" deck screws. We've also run into just about every surface or combination of surfaces imaginable too - plywood, all types of brick, cinder block, cast concrete, steel and even covered up windows.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Dave Draper (Member # 102) on :
I love Drivit! Sorry Bill!
Behind Drivit is insulation foam. Sometimes they use this yellow QR board. It wont hold a screw or an anchor very well.
However, there should be steel 2x4s or 2x6s behind the foam that you can drill into. A really strong magnet might help you locate them...just a guess. The QR board is only 3/4 to 1 inch thick
It will be really hard, if not impossible, to locate the studs by looking, as the seams in the foam have been rasped, filled with cement base coat then covered with a thick fiberglass mesh and more cement coat, sanded, any rough areas re-base coated, then finished with the acrylic textured finish. Those guys pride themselves on a no flaw surface...at least the true craftsmen do. (that would be the illegal aliens) hahahahahaah!
Hope this helps.
I want to re-clad my whole house in Drivit! I can do it now!
[ April 02, 2007, 06:23 PM: Message edited by: Dave Draper ]
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
Draper, I bet the city of Bloomington has laws against houses that look like a Zebra.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
Sounds like a hassle I know but try this...
Make a mounting pattern of the grommet holes ...place it where the banner goes.
Drill your holes (1/4" dia.) and inject Gorilla glue...then shove in a blue plastic anchor...the glue foams up and adheres to the foam under the dryvit and oozes into the blue plug...you may need to trim some foam off the front of the wall after it has cured... no problem (use a sharp wood chisel).
Ok ...go away and leave this til tomorrow.
Come back the following day and mount banner with fender washers and # 10 screws.
Only snug the screws up to the wall...it is still possible to overdrive the scews and tear the whole thing out...but they will hold well if you just snug'em (by hand preferably)..
[ April 03, 2007, 08:17 AM: Message edited by: Monte Jumper ]
Posted by David Schulz (Member # 6931) on :
Those are some great ideas guys! I think I'm going to head into it with Monte's idea (smallest holes) and see what's behind it and if needed drop back and punt.
Having this much wisdom and experience available at my finger tips helps me actually sleep at night. Thank you guys so much for the advice.
Dave
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
I don't care how you do it; if the wind blows hard it will pull out. Just warn your client that it's not your fault if it does. C Y O A.
Posted by Dave Draper (Member # 102) on :
David S. Be careful! If you lean an extension ladder up against the Drivit clad building, you will dent the surface everywhere the ladder contacts the wall.
Just a heads up! Ask me how I know! On second thought, No! don't ask!
It Wasn't a good day!
Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :
large washers and about 3.5"-4" screws. that is all you need
Posted by Tom Giampia (Member # 2007) on :
First thing that I would do is use a mesh banner to reduce the wind effects.
You could also use either aluminum tube or even wood 2x4's to make a frame that you attach with toggles and also hit the studs.
This will disperse the stress across the entire legnth.
Good Luck!
Posted by Dana Stanley (Member # 6786) on :
A good stud finder is about $20.00 and should work well through the drivit. You may get lucky and find all plywood underneath. They do that a lot around here. If you don't locate studs then toggles are a good idea even with plywood. If you didn't make the banner yet you may want to see if they will upgrade to dibond it wont be as much of a sail like the banner will after it loosens up.
Posted by David Schulz (Member # 6931) on :
Just thought I'd give an update. I thought I was out of the woods on this project when the company called and said that their building maintenance manager would be responsible for installing the banner, whew . . .now it's your problem buddy. Well, I volunteered to give him a hand and I'm glad I did, his idea was I-bolts directly into the foam wall and hang the banner from carabiners. I played along for about 10 minutes, then pulled plan B from my bag: http://www.constructionresources.net/eztfastner.htm I found these while looking for the blue plastic anchors and thought I'd try them. These things worked great, they only use a 1/4" hole and are rated to 75 lbs. each. I popped one in and it only caught the fiberglass skin on the dryvit, but as I started cranking it down it really dug in. One held a 4' x 20' banner up by the middle grommet in the wind for a good 10 minutes while we repositioned the ladders, so having one every 2 feet top and bottom . . . it's not going anywhere. I did double nut them to keep them from wiggling loose. I addition we didn't destroy the facade of the building so when we take it down there won't be any explaining to do. I'll post some pics when I get some. Thanks for all the ideas guys, you made me look like I knew what I was doing!
[ April 28, 2007, 10:24 PM: Message edited by: David Schulz ]
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