Simpson Universal Foundation Plate Installation (URFP) How-To Install

[@settjessettje9323]

Thanks for a “real life”video on this install. My daughter and I will be doing this soon on her house.

[@KentSchneeveis]

Some advise - I have since started using the Titian screw bolts over the wedge anchors. I did a video on it... kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJXdiYqXeLGYhqM

[@kellymyers8671]

Thanks so much for making this video. I am going to do this on my house using the flat 7 ga. plates because my mud sill is nearly flush with the foundation.

[@guitarfixx4652]

Flat is the way to go for you. Enjoy!

[@dfp21]

Great video. Looks like my house (built 1950 Pasadena). Crawling around replacing ancient galvanized steel with PEX I realized the floor beams just resting on the sill plate with no attachment. Also noticed very old beer cans and tequila bottles hidden in various places. So, my question - Is it typical for laborers to be half drunk while doing what you're paying them to do?

[@jessedukelacrosse6470]

Some do , I do not , wait till I get home 😉 concrete finishers, framers will knock back a few in cars while there is downtime , not a great look , but some of those men are masters at what they do

[@electricamir248]

Thank you for removing garbage. I hate it when people leave garbage under a house. Don't kill the spiders. They pull their weight by eating roaches, bugs, and flies.

[@mattkeefe3850]

Use the newer URFP Simpson plates. They are the newer Simpson unit and use 4" Titan bolts that screw in with a 300ft lb 1/2 Ryobi 701 Impact driver+ 6 amp battery. Also, I used a 1/2 Milwaukee vacuum drill bit 1/2 in. x 7-7/8 in. x 13 in. SDS-Plus 4-Cutter Carbide Vacuum Drill Bit used with a 32mm hepa shop vac hose. It vacs 90%+ concrete dust. Also It is a must and wear 3M dust mask. A Simpson Retrofit Install Guide(www.strongtie.com/resources/literature/seismic-retrofit-guide0 is also a must read. Look for the Howard Cook, www.bayarearetrofit.com/ for the engineering studies and the use of the base shear formula for proper spacing/ strength.

[@KentSchneeveis]

Hi Matt - Thanks for the links. I'll give those new plates from Simpson a look! - Kent

[@sarubinca]

As I understand, the anchor bolts of the Foundation Plate should be torqued to a specific amount according to code. Here in Santa Monica, California, that amount is, at least, 30 lb-foot. So, tightening by "feel" may not be the correct way to tighten the anchor bolts. Advise: check your municipal code. Also advise checking whether-or-not this information is correct advice.

[@victorjohnson7266]

That install was trash... Jose drive the sds screws into mudsill at a downward angle, supposed to go straight in (very critical). And next time try using a baby sledge for the wedge anchors👍🏼

[@6667734666]

At 3:10 Do you not mean that it is supposed to be LESS than 12 inches from the edge? (meaning corner) Thanks for a very informative video.

[@KentSchneeveis]

+Scott Foresman Checking the Seismic Retrofit Guide from Simpson Strong-Tie it says "12 inches or GREATER between Universal Foundation Plate and corner (edge of house)." Go here for the complete .pdf that was used as the guide for this job: www.preventionweb.net/files/7615_fplans07.pdf

[@6667734666]

+Kent Schneeveis Thanks for the link. According to it, the first UFP10 could hypothetically be almost five feet from the corner. Below is a link to a Simpson PDF which seems to contradict it's own guide. Section 4 says within 9-12 inches of corner. Guess I'll give them a call unless you can enlighten me. www.strongtie.com/ftp/examples/seismic/seismicretrofitdetails.pdf

[@6667734666]

+Kent Schneeveis Mystery solved. It's the current Seismic Guide that shows the UFP to be located within 9"-12" from the corner. Page 11. www.strongtie.com/ftp/fliers/F-SEISRETRGD12R.pdf

[@KentSchneeveis]

+Scott Foresman Good! Well done, I saw that too. It still doesn't hurt to call and talk to the manufacture rep at Simpson. Talk to him about your job. Keep in mind the way the existing structure is built will sometimes dictate where UFP can be placed. For example the furnace may be in the way; so in that case put one on either side. You've got to be flexible, creative, and have 'can-do' solution-based thinking. With that in the end you'll have a better shot of truly securing your home.

[@joecox9958]

at 5m43s it is clear UFP10 not URFP. SImpson intensively mess up the two different parts, really stupid. Anybody can tell me where to get older parts as shown in the video?

[@KentSchneeveis]

Hi Joe - If it were me I'd call their number, they are pretty good on the phone... [phone]

[@spencerhorowitz3671]

how long does this take for a typical 50's house? or how long per simpson plate on average?

[@quince10]

How long the wedge anchors you're using, 4 1/2 or 5 1/2?

[@KentSchneeveis]

They were 5 1/2"

[@quince10]

@@KentSchneeveis Thanks a lot, Kent!

[@WilsonConstructionSD]

Good review. Does your city require a permit?

[@KentSchneeveis]

No, In Palo Alto CA. it is up to the home owner to sort out how he or she should best care for their house as far as what they think the right approach world be as far as protecting against earthquakes. However, at the point of purchase, an inspector advised that the house be bolted to the foundation.

[@ivanrojas1085]

So...let me get this right, Jose does all the heavy work and you do the talk, videotaping and collect the hefty fees from the retrofitting? I hope you are paying the guy his fair share. I am just saying...

[@mwieber]

Ken, I hope this was your house, and not a paying customer's. If you had inquired with Simpson, they would have told you that you can't shim UFPs. And even if you could, the load path is only as strong as the two connectors you used from the shim to the sill plate. There are ways to deal with a sill plate that's inset more than 2-1/2" from the inside face of the foundation, but you would need to understand what you're doing first, which you clearly don't. Also, you forgot to transfer the lateral loads from the house to the sill plate. Oh, and "every 6'" only works on square houses, since the hardware is only strong in-plane. If your wall short walls are only 20' long, you would be relying on a total of 6 plates (3 on each wall) to keep your house from moving off the foundation. Stick to painting Ken. And pull this lame video before anyone follows your advice.

[@KentSchneeveis]

I agree. That's why we did not use shim. At closer look the UFP worked with our circumstance, after all, it is a Universal Foundation Plate and we went with UFP installation guidelines. Astute observation Michael. Thanks for the comment. - Kent

[@mwieber]

So, 2-1/2" or less off-set? I'm a retrofit contractor in Portland, and sometimes see UPFs shimmed by contractors who promote themselves as retrofit contractors. If these morons can't figure it out (despite the sticker on the front of every plate illustrating installation specifications), what can you expect from a homeowner? Maybe you could edit that part out and re-post?

[@KentSchneeveis]

Editing that part out would make the video stronger, I agree. But I'm not a retrofit contractor; my videos are more empirical documentation of taking on challenges with care. If there is something that could be done better I want to know about it and make the changes. Folks will see from the comments that using a shim with these UFP's in not endorsed by the manufacture.

[@mfahlers]

How do you handle a distance greater than 2.5"? I haven't figured out how to handle a 4" set back at my house. Thanks

[@mwieber]

If you have a joist floor diaphragm, bolt a length of LVL to the top of the wall, butted up against the floor joists on the longitudinal wall. Then, or before, install full-depth blocking directly above the LVL, and transfer the lateral loads with Simpson LTP4s. If you tell me the sf of each floor level (skip the basement) independently, meaning I don't need a total sf unless you only have one level, I'll do the calc's for you and tell you how many feet, bolts, clips, etc., you'll need. And tell me if you have stucco, brick, or a tile roof. And don't follow anything in this video.