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Double-sided shearwall

Nat_T | Posted in General Questions on

When shearwalls have high demand it is sometimes necessary to sheathe both sides. The code allows you to take 2x the capacity when double sheathed. Any thoughts on what this does to the wall in terms of moisture?

I am considering this in conjunction with zip-r (cue the boooos) but only in one discrete wall. I have one short wall that doesn’t have sufficient capacity with zip-r, I could get it with standard osb. I was considering zip-r on the outside plus osb on the inside where I’d get all my capacity. (OSB later to be covered with gyp of course). In theory I could create a good number of small holes in the interior osb with minimal effort and minimal reduction in capacity. Zip-r references using metal strap bracing or let in bracing but both of those I don’t consider viable options. Sheathing the inside for one wall would be relatively cheap and easy to understand. I just worry if I’m creating a problem

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Replies

  1. Expert Member
    MALCOLM TAYLOR | | #1

    Nat,

    No you will be fine. There have been lots of projects featured here on GBA that installed interior OSB specifically for its qualities as an air-barrier and variable perm vapour-retarder. I've used Simpson Strong Walls on several projects, which are a commercial version of the same thing. I'd use plywood instead of OSB, but that's just my preference.

  2. Nat_T | | #2

    Thanks, Malcom - Good to hear. That was almost the death of my zip-r venture - this at least keeps it in the running for now. Thanks for your help.

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