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Wall Sheathing 101: When to Measure and When to Wing It

comments (0) March 4th, 2009 in Blogs

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Sheathe over window and door openings first; then make cutouts with a high-powered router.

Sheathe over window and door openings first; then make cutouts with a high-powered router.

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by Lynn Hayward

The first sheet determines how smoothly the rest of the sheets will flow, so snap a line across the studs as an alignment aid, line up the sheets carefully, and double-check the overhang. But don’t measure, mark, snap lines, and cut out window and door openings with a circular saw. Instead, sheathe over them, then make cutouts with a high-powered router.


Cut openings quickly with a panel-cutting bit. I look for a plunge-cutting panel bit with a cutting length of 1-1⁄8 in. or 1-1⁄4 in. This allows me to get twice the life out of the bit: After I dull the top half, I reset the bit lower for a fresh cutting surface. Porter-Cable makes one for around $16.

Read the complete article...
Framing Big Gable Walls Safely and Efficiently
Build them on the floor, lift them with specialized jacks, and eliminate extra footsteps wherever possible
by Lynn S. Hayward