Vertical or Horizontal Sheathing

ETpilot · Jan 31, 2014

I am into my shed building project. I'm just finishing the wood foundation. I am a solo builder and foundation turned into a challenge. Wood got rain and snow, rare for snow here, and cupped, bowed, warped, etc. I had to manhandle it to get it all square and level. Now I am thinking about the walls whether to sheet the walls vertical or horizontal. Horizontal with a blocking strip would seem the strongest to me. Vertical seems to be the norm for builders. Just curious what others have done. I'm thinking i am going horizontal.

EddieWalker · Jan 31, 2014

I like to stand my sheeting up at the corners. This gives you a little more rigidity then two pieces that are flat, but it's almost like splitting hairs. It's going to be just about impossible to tell the difference between one over the other. The thing that I like about standing them up on a single story building is that the sheeting connects your bottom sill plate to your top plates. This gives you a lot of strength, but I honestly don't know if it's significant over having a seam in the middle of your studs or not.

Either way, you'll be fine.

Eddie

smstonypoint · Jan 31, 2014

Just curious -- do building codes for residential construction have anything to say about this issue?

Steve

s219 · Jan 31, 2014

I've done it both ways. In many cases with a shed, the sheathing may be the siding (ie, using T-111 or similar) so that dictates vertical. If it's a small shed, with some dimensions less than 12', it probably doesn't make much difference either way. The whole shed would blow over in a tornado before any sheathing pops due to an orientation!

Almost all homes I see built nowadays have all sheathing vertical. As Eddie notes, that's probably to make a strong connection between top and bottom plates.

BuilderML · Jan 31, 2014

A rule i like to use is any wall under 4' in width up and down is best. I did run into an issue once as my state is split into two different wind ratings. We framed a house and the front of the garage had walls under 4' in width and the inspector wanted the sheathing up and down for greater shear strength. I find its easier not to argue with the inspector.

/pine · Jan 31, 2014

FWIW...The Southern Standard Building Code (framing manual) states that if using sheathing at the corners (over let in lateral wood bracing or steel strap bracing)... All the edges of plywood/osb etc. must break on solid lumber with a strict nailing schedule...nails must have full heads (no staples)...