Wall Sheathing Joint at Floor System

[NFExp]

I am working on a 4-story wood frame building and I would like to get an idea on how engineers are detailing the wall sheathing joints to accommodate shrinkage. In the past, I have specified the wall sheathing to lap over the floor system for redundancy of shear and uplift. Another engineer mentioned that lapping the sheathing at the floor system will cause the sheathing to buckle after building shrinkage.

I am surprised that I can't find a specific detail on APA that addresses this issue.

FYI, I estimate that I have about 1 1/2" total shrinkage over the building height. The job I am working on is platform framed with wood trusses bottom chord bearing on the exterior walls. Balloon framing the walls or using I-joist is not an option.

 

[msquared48]

At each story, nail the sheathing toward the bottom of the top plate, and toward the top of the bottom plate. This will minimize the story shrinkage seen by the story sheathing as most of the shrinkage occurs in the plates and joists.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering