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What Every Builder And Homeowner Should Know About Wood Wall Sheathing

The overall strength of a building is function of all of the components – floors, walls, roof, and foundation – working together as a unit. When an earthquake or high wind strikes the house, the walls and roof bear the brunt of these forces. A fully sheathed wall of plywood or OSB, properly connected to the foundation below and roof above, is a strong barrier that resists the persistent forces of wind and earthquakes.

Structural Wood Sheathing Defends Your Home From Disaster

If you’re building or buying a home, make sure that the walls of the house are built to last. One of the best ways to ensure safety and strength is to build with plywood or oriented strand board (OSB).

Recent tests show that structural panel wall sheathing of plywood or OSB can help make your house two to three times more able to withstand high winds and earthquakes. These tests aren’t just simulated events in the laboratory. They’re real events – hurricanes in Florida, and earthquakes in California and Japan.