Cripple Wall Ventilation

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Slide 55 of 67

Notes:

Another thing to remember is to provide ventilation at the cripple wall sheathing.
- Many older homes do not have building paper under their horizontal siding around the crawl space.
- This permits water to enter the cripple wall stud cavity.
- Circular ventilation holes should be cut in the sheathing when new sheathing is placed on the inside face of the cripple wall.
- The figure shows properly installed ventilation holes
- Prescriptive standards specify the size and spacing of the ventilation holes.
  - The holes will help prevent wood rot
  - Locate the holes near the bolts so inspectors can observe and test anchor bolts.
  - Screens should be installed over the ventilation holes to prevent the entry of animals
- New sheathing should not block existing vents.
  - Where sheathing must be placed where a ventilation or other opening is located, cut an opening for the vent, install blocking around the vent opening and extend the length of shear wall the width of the vent opening to the nearest stud.