vertical or horizontal wall sheathing?
user-39158
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I’ve been making a living as a builder for almost ten years, and have always installed wall sheathing vertically, not horizontally, until the other day. I’ve got a new crew with a varied range of experience, and it’s my first frame-to-finish job and my first experience as a general contractor. One of the guys on my crew was insistent that horizontal installation is “THE way”. So, I caved and we installed the 1/2″ plywood sheathing horizontally, with a 15 minute discussion regarding blocking at the seams following. So, I’m throwing it out there for discussion as far a who does what and why regarding the vertical or horizontal installation of wall sheathing and blocking.
Replies
This has come up before and, as one who has always installed horizontally (to the strength axis against shear), I was proven wrong by the APA website, along with some here.
The upshot is, it makes NO DIFFERENCE!
So, intuitively, I still prefer to install horizontally, but, as with the home I'm building now, blocking is required at all the shearwall plywood seams, and with 10' walls, the blocking is reduced by half by installing vertically. (Not to mention less hassle for the plumber and electricians, etc.).
There is still a code requirement to stagger horizontal joints, however, at least on shear walls.