TallWall EWS

TallWall EWS makes framing easier, faster, and less costly. EWS sheathing is engineered and designed to match engineered floor system depths and today's wall heights. Using TallWall EWS means the floors and walls are tied together creating, stronger, stiffer, flatter, walls and homes. There will be fewer nail pops, less hassle for the trades and the siding installer will have a flat even surface to work with. Whether you build one story, two story or multi family, the right size wall sheathing saves the professional builder both money and time with less hassle.

Installed vertically these 48" wide APA rated structural sheets, cover from the sill plate, over the joist area and studs to the first floor top plate area — with one panel. In a two story applications the second sheet starts at the lower partition top plate area and continues over the floor, the studs up to the upper plate area — again with one panel. It's the right size

TallWall EWS means there are no horizontal joints to block which means:

Less labor
Less material to buy
Less cutting
Less waste
Less chance of mistakes
Less handling

Framers tell us they save 15 to 20 man hours per home plus and their material and waste disposal costs are significantly reduced. Even estimating the amount of wall sheathing required is faster and easier with TallWall EWS.

Tests have proven that when 10’ TallWall panels on a 9’ wall overlap the floor system that the wall capacity increases +35%, stiffness +24% and the displacement +38% compared to using 4x8s.

TallWall EWS is offered in several “Series” to make it easy, for example a home being built with 16” engineered joists and 9’ ceilings would use EWS Series 1600-9. If that home had a second floor using 16” engineered joists and 8’ ceilings, EWS Series 1600-8 would be used. When 14” engineered joists are specified, use EWS Series 1400-8 or 1400-9.
Panels are 7/16" X 48” wide and cut to the length required to match standard engineered floor depths and today’s wall heights.

TallWall® is engineered specifically to be used for wall applications and is not to be used for roof or floor sheathing.

Norbord OSB panels should be stored flat, indoors or under cover and protected from the elements.
When stacked, panels with supports banded to the units need to have the supports aligned.
On panels too large to have the supports banded to the unit, full width blocking needs to be placed 6" from each end and at 24" intervals over the length of the unit.
If stacked, this blocking also needs to be aligned.
If stored outdoors, keep panels off the ground and on a flat base. Cover loosely to allow air circulation at the sides.
OSB should not be exposed to the weather or moisture on a continuous basis. However, exposure 1/exterior bond rating indicates that unprotected exposure during normal construction periods will not adversely affect the structural properties.
Panels should be handled and stored with care to avoid damage and should be used on a first-in, first-out basis.

All panels should be continuous over two or more spans.
All panels should be spaced 1/8" apart along all edges.
Provide 3/4" expansion joints for every continuous section of panels exceeding 80 feet in length.
Nails should penetrate structural members a minimum of 1".
Sheathing paper is not generally required over OSB unless stucco, non-wood siding or, in some cases, brick veneer, is used for the exterior finish. (Consult the applicable building code.)
Nail spacing** should be 6" on center along panel edges and 12" on center into intermediate supports.
Prior to application, acclimatization of panels to surroundings for at least 24 hours is recommended.
When applicable, span ratings, durability and mill identification is included in the grade stamp applied to every panel.

**Consult your local building codes for local requirements and specifications

Ask for Windstorm OSB wall sheathing panels.

Click to download "TallWall EWS" PDF brochure