sheathing walls

[ITE]

Ive seen builders and read in books to sheath walls by starting at the top with a 4x8 sheet horizontally and working their way down and by starting on the bottom and working their way up. what is the right or best way to do this or does it really matter?

[Rich]

Personally I have always framed the wall on the floor, squared it up there, sheathed it from the bottom up, installed tyvek, and then stood the wall. I've even went so far as installing windows on the ground in smaller sections.
I don't think there is a right way or wrong way as long as the sheathing runs horizontally and the joints are alternating. When I install sheathing when the wall is laying down I overhang it from the bottom by 1' (or whatever the rim joist size is) so it can nail into the sill plate. Then when I stand the wall it's already to nail off.

[Rich]

Oh I was going to say that I've seen people sheath with the long direction vertically - but I just don't see the benefit from a shear standpoint.

[mreynolds]

If you are sheathing a standard 8 foot tall wall horizontally, how do you deal with the sheet that has to ripped? Would you apply a full sheet at the top, ripped sheet in the middle and then full at the bottom? (I am assuming 4x8 sheets)

[Rich]

I usually do ripped at the top. I'm getting very little help to counteract shear at the top of the wall as compared to the bottom where it's a more rigid connection. And if I have to do it off a ladder I want to be using the smallest piece possible.