How many screws per board?

   / How many screws per board? #1  

UpToNoGood

Bronze Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2011
Messages
90
Location
Magdalena NM / Datil NM
Tractor
Bobcat CT2025
I am building a 20x20 garage this summer and I am in the planning/material gathering stage.
The outer walls will be ¾ plywood running long to cover more studs. Each board will cover 7 studs 16 on center. So my question is how many screws per stud? I was thinking 5 per stud each screw being 2 long. The boards will be staggered like bricks.
 
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   / How many screws per board? #2  
Plywood I generally fasten down on with 12-16" spacing between fasteners.
 
   / How many screws per board? #3  
Code required me to nail 8d nails 4" on center around the perimeter and 12" on center in the field... screws not allowed.
 
   / How many screws per board? #4  
Ultrarunner is correct. My inspectors will even frown if we go as much as 12" in the field.
Dave
 
   / How many screws per board? #5  
What is the thinking behind screws not being allowed by code? Is it engineering or does the code need to be updated to allow them?

Kevin
 
   / How many screws per board? #6  
I'm curious why your running the plywood that way?
 
   / How many screws per board? #7  
What is the thinking behind screws not being allowed by code? Is it engineering or does the code need to be updated to allow them?

Kevin
I was told nails are stronger than screws?
 
   / How many screws per board? #8  
I was told code may require nails because they have better shear strength than screws.
 
   / How many screws per board? #9  
The plywood is ran perpendicular to the framing for strength. This locks the framing together and helps to prevent "racking" of the walls during high winds, snow loads, etc.
 
   / How many screws per board? #10  
I was told nails are stronger than screws?

It is all in how you define "stronger".

Nails are softer, will bend instead of breaking/failing, and usually are better for shear loads.

Screws are much harder, and usually take more effort to pull out.

So it all depends on the application. I would do what code requires in the area.

But I am sure hundreds are built with screws, and hundreds are built with nails, and neither will fail if used and installed properly.
 

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