Building walls off the mudsil
darkdiamondfarm
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I am looking to start a project that will be a 2 story build with a stem wall foundation. The first story is all garage, with living space upstairs. Essentially, the first floor walls will be built on the stem wall, however I am wondering if it is acceptable to lay out a mudsill, bolt it in place, and then run a second mudsill to cover the bolts and nail my walls straight to this. I want to do this to avoid building walls with the bottom plate as the mudsill as I do not want to shimmy and manhandle walls onto the foundation J-bolts. Having a double mudsill would allow me to tip my walls up and nail the bottom plate directly the double mudsill. Has anyone had experience doing this, and if so, are there any additional things I have to do?
Replies
Where are you located? In seismic zones what you propose would not be acceptable.
Thats a great point! I am building in Vermont, or seismic zone SDC B ( minimal risk). My other thought was even if I built walls on top of a double mudsill, I could drill through the bottom plate and both mudsills and epoxy some additional anchors. Time consuming for sure, but a double mudsill does give me the ability to shim between layers to give me a level starting point.
Stretch a string and measure up to your string for garage walls.
This is a fine way to do it, even in siesmic zones. Usually builders will overhang their sheathing so that when the wall is tipped up they can edge nail to the sill plate, then you also stitch together the plates, with appropriate fasteners obviously.
Lol have you ever built a wall?? You definitely should already know how to quickly mark and drill out the j bolts so your wall doesn't shift off the house later in life
For somebody new here you’d think you would show a little decorum responding.
No?
Why would a double sill be more susceptible to shifting? If you fasten in to the lower plate it will be just a solid as fastening a stud to the lower plate, given you run your shear to the sill. I will say you should certainly not shim between your plates and that your stem wall should already be level, and if it is not you should level it with a high strength grout.
Also you should not use a string as a level line as it will invariably sag (physics). You should invest in a laser level. Also consider buying a reputable book on framing, something like “Graphic Guide to Frame Construction.” Lastly you should consult an engineer if you are unsure and not take advice from a forum when life safety issues are at play.