Exterior wall sheathing 1

[dfish67]

For structural purposes, does exterior wall sheathing need to be fastened to the foundation sill plate? Or just to the sole plate of the wall? (Assuming a shear wall)

 

[SperlingPE]

The sheathing needs to attach to the foundation sill plate. The shear load will go from the sheathing through the connection to the sill plate into connection (usually through bearing on anchor bolts) holding the sill plate to the foundation.

 

[dfish67]

Thanks SperlingPE. Is it OK to "splice" sheathing from the sole plate to the sill plate? Does it need to one sheet from the sill plate over the rim joist and sole plate up to some point in the wall with blocking?

 

[SperlingPE]

Splices are okay. Pay attention to the actual shear load and the requirements for nailing. You can have continuous seams in a diaphragm, but you take a hit on the capacity. The APA-Engineered Wood something has downloadable brochures which talk about shear wall construction. Practical useful information that is directed at builder's.

 

[UcfSE]

Perhaps this is a dumb question, but what's the difference between the foundation sill plate and the sole plate? I thought that was the same thing.

 

[FalsePrecision]

UcfSE,

Ain't no such thing as "dumb" question...I worked for about 2 years before I realized that a #11 rebar is 11/8 inch nominal diameter.

Answer to your query: When, for instance, floor joists bearing on sill plate (aka "mudsill") bearing on concrete foundation stem wall, the single 2x sole plate is over the floor sheathing, i.e. at the bottom of the studwall bearing on top of the floor joists.

 

[UcfSE]

Ahhh... that makes sense. Thank you FalsePrecision. That detail is pretty uncommon in FL, that's probably why I didn't know.

 

[ronster]

If the sheathing is not continuous you loose some shear capacity in your diaphragm (wich is not usually a problem in most houses) but more importantly you loose the ability to transfer uplift (tension) loads through the sheathing and will need straps where uplift is an issue.