How to Nail a Shear Wall

• Edge nail:

  • hold-down stud(s)
  • upper top plate
  • sill or sole plate
  • blocking for individual panel edges
  • blocking for opening reinforcement

• Field nail the studs between the panel edges

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PROVIDE PROPER EDGE NAILING

• For the shear wall to function correctly, all sheathing edges of individual panels must be fastened with the edge distance nailing requirements.
  • Intermediate studs must be fastened with the field nailing requirements so that panel buckling does not occur.
  • Remember: End of a shear wall is where the sheathing stops at either the wall corner or the framing member with the hold-down device.
  • Most common error:
    • All sheathing must be fastened with the closer edge distance spacing at every framing member that connects to a hold-down device.

• Discussion of Table 5
  • Shows where nails should be placed for different elements
  • The term “Edge Nail” refers to the closer nail spacing requirement of Uniform Building Code Table 23-1-K-1.
  • Field nailing should be used on the studs between panel edges except at framing members connected to hold-down devices.