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The wall is balloon frame 2 stories, 1×8 T&G sheathing. Expanding a room, I want to make 8 feet wide arch on 2nd floor part of the wall. The arch will leave about 30 inches of wall on one side. Entire wall is 21 feet. I thought 30 inch shear wall is possible because such work is done for garage openings. I plan to use 1/2 inch plywood horizontally, covering studs and header, 8d nails every 6 inches. There is no floor sill but I believe there is a ceiling sill plates. Does this make a shear wall, and should plywood also cover the top sill plates? Would using 3/4 ply be going over board? Thank you.
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Hi Kwan,
Can you give a little more information about your header size and composition as well as the type and construction of the roof/attic above?
Off the top I would have to recommend you get an opinion from a local engineer/building inspector BEFORE proceeding with this project.
Gabe
*Check with a local engineer! In Los Angeles, the minimum width of shear used to be 3.5:1. For an 8' ceiling, that was about 2'-4" for the wall width. Since the 1994 Northridge quake, it has been reduced to 2:1 or 4' minimum width for an 8' ceiling. Check with an engineer.
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Thank you for the information. The local town inspector is likely to send me to an engineer. I think I will follow the advice.
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The wall is balloon frame 2 stories, 1x8 T&G sheathing. Expanding a room, I want to make 8 feet wide arch on 2nd floor part of the wall. The arch will leave about 30 inches of wall on one side. Entire wall is 21 feet. I thought 30 inch shear wall is possible because such work is done for garage openings. I plan to use 1/2 inch plywood horizontally, covering studs and header, 8d nails every 6 inches. There is no floor sill but I believe there is a ceiling sill plates. Does this make a shear wall, and should plywood also cover the top sill plates? Would using 3/4 ply be going over board? Thank you.