Anytime we use real plywood, we always use nails. Whenever it is osb, we use staples. The nails tend to blow apart the osb, while the staples don't seem to have the holding power to prevent the plywood from lifting. Shear walls specifically call for nailing and sometimes other hardware, as well as different header details.

Thanks.

We use 8d on OSB and can agree with the blowing it apart at times. Gotta keep after the pressure of the gun or the guys get to blowing em clear through the sheet. Often wondered why 6's wouldnt be enough though if its not a shear wall.

I usually use 8d nails without much problem.

I use 8d ring shank with cdx. Rarely use osb. When I did I used 8d ring shank.

forsmant said:

I was wondering what you guys nail your wall sheathing with? 7'16" crown staples or 8d nails? That new shear wall code requires 8d nails every three inches on some walls and it made me question why we stapled everywhere else.

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8's and the quick adjust tips on the guns make all the difference in the world, seems to be alot easier for me to just pull it back a click or two vs messing with air pressure, some of my guns get rather finicky at anything below 100psi.

We did help recently on a big room addition, the guy who sold it never had the materials needed for the job and we ran him out of nails sheeting everything so he brings up a staple gun and staples. I've seen it done a few times, but it was my stubborn state of mind to get the job done with what i am used to doing so i just lent out some nails from my stash.

With staples do you have to fire more in frequently in the feilds and butts?

Same here.:thumbsup:

Joe Carola said:

I use 8d ring shank with cdx. Rarely use osb. When I did I used 8d ring shank.

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When I am stapling, I put one every 6 inches and about every four in the butts. I was just wondering what was better.

Hand pound 8's.

Really, I do. No more than I have to do it, it's kind of relaxing!

OK, just wanted to point this out. The question is....

what do you nail your wall sheathing with?

and the answer to that question is always....

nails

If you asked what kind of fasteners.....

8d or 10d's.What ever the plans say.

Forgive my lack of proper grammar.

framerman said:

OK, just wanted to point this out. The question is....

what do you nail your wall sheathing with?

and the answer to that question is always....

nails

If you asked what kind of fasteners.....

Click to expand...

Since I still have my old ancient Bostitch sheathing stapler and a pallet of galvanized staples I still use staples, and use 8d nails on the shear panels.

And 1/2" crown not 7/16", and never have a problem with them pulling out, They seem to stay in better than the nails, and if a panel has to be pulled off will rip right through the wood and stay in the stud instead of pulling out of the stud with the panel.

Staples were made illegal around here about 12 years ago. It's always 8d nails, the question is what diameter. The plans will specify what type of nails, the stronger shear walls require structural I plywood with .141 diameter nails.

Is this a King County thing?

As far as I know King County is using the IRC code same as every other county in the state, and staples are allowed under the IRC, except in engineered shear panels where 8d nails are specified. A engineered shear panel can be specified with staples and is allowed in the IRC, but most engineers just specify 8d's.

Check IRC Table R602.3(2)

I looked at the King County DDES website, and I didn't see any exceptions or sections not adopted applying to this. The only chapters not adopted are 11, and 25 thru 40.

16.05.010 Adoption. The International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings Code, as amended in chapter 51-52 WAC, effective July 1, 2007, as published by or jointly with the International Code Council, Inc., together with appendices, amendments, additions, deletions and exceptions hereinafter adopted by reference, together with the Washington state building code and with King County modifications which shall be adopted and codified in this chapter are adopted as the King County International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings code and hereinafter referred to as the International Residential Code, "IRC." Chapter 11 and Chapters 25 through 40 are not adopted. The energy code is regulated by chapter 51-11 WAC; the plumbing code is regulated by chapter 51-56 WAC; the electrical code is regulated by chapter 296-46B WAC; and Appendix G is included in adoption of the International Residential Code. (Ord. 15802 § 74, 2007: Ord. 14914 § 269, 2004).

Just replying

I'm going to have to jump on the 8d bandwagon. As long as I've been swinging a club people have been using 8's. I've never actually used staples to fasten sheathing to a wall. I've had to remove it before and usually whosoever initially applied it decided it would be a good idea to use no less than 167 staples per sheet. Now that wouldn't be a problem except when I was a young lad starting out and encountered said situation, job safety was, (as it should be) a must. So I was therefore required to remove all 167 fasteners from the sheet, and boy was it fun. Yes, I understand that one must remove nails as well, however, it's not very often you encounter some trigger happy fella that wants to see just how many nails a standard sheet of plywood can accommodate. So, yeah, 8d ring shank has been the norm to which I've encountered. Just sayin...

I prefer staples in osb due to it being quicker.. I am also careful to leave a small expansion gap along the edges. regular ply seems to pull tight better with nails. I wish plywood was a hair shorter than 8' so I could leave a little crack at the ends too

BINGO.:thumbsup:

Here the 2007 CBC Which is based on the 2006 IBC. Table 2304.9.1 Fastening Schedule allows staples but are not commonly used around here. As stated above it's best to use whatever the plans say.

JumboJack said:

8d or 10d's.What ever the plans say.

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The plans you guys frame from must be detailed and well put together. I have never seen a plan that calls out specific fasteners for wall sheathing. Perhaps I am not looking at it well enough or our plans suck. I am leaning toward the latter. I only brought this up because 8d nails have more shear strength than staples. I was going to suggest we use 8d's instead of staples on every wall, not just the shear walls at my work, but wanted to know what everyone else was doing.