Thread: Sill Plate

Anybody out there know if you can use plywood strips as your bottom plate in wall construction?

I say no, the IRC says it must be a nominal 2 by member equal to the same size of studs it supports... to me the intent is a 2 x 4 stud should be used as sill for a 2 x 4 wall.

Heron Longoria Jr. Building Inspector III
City of McAllen

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Originally Posted by Heron Longoria Jr.

Anybody out there know if you can use plywood strips as your bottom plate in wall construction?

Yes, well OSB, if it designed for that use. We used a segmented OSB plate for curved walls, it was 1 1/2" thick, I think it was an I-Level product.

Originally Posted by Heron Longoria Jr.

Anybody out there know if you can use plywood strips as your bottom plate in wall construction?

Heron Longoria Jr. Building Inspector III
City of McAllen

Heron,

Welcome aboard.

The answer to your question - using plywood - is no.

Plywood is not designed or intended for compressive loading like that.