Framing Tools: Sheathing

A common sheathing tool that allows you to add sheathing to the sheathing layer of a wall panel, a floor or roof, or a floor or roof panel. Select Tool from the list. The parameters are set according to the selected tool. If necessary, edit the parameters in the dialog box. The parameters define the sheet sizes, sheathing direction, alignment, etc. The following sheathing tools are included in the basic software delivery:

• Continuous (CONTINUOUS) - A continuous sheathing style to minimize material waste. The sheathing seams are placed so that the left over parts are utilized in accordance with the spacing of the framing. Parameter Overlap = Spacing.
• Staggered (OVERLAP) - This option makes the sheet seams overlap. Parameter Overlap = Half.
• Grid (GRID) - The sheets are positioned in the sheathing area so that their seams are continuous. Parameter Overlap = None.

Sheathing Rules

Overlap

The overlap is set according to the selected tool. If necessary, you can change the overlap.

Continuous (CONTINUOUS) - Overlap = Spacing, Rotate = 90, Align = Left.

Staggered (OVERLAP) - Overlap = Half, Rotate = 0, Align = Left.

Grid (GRID) - Overlap = None, Rotate = 0, Align = Left.

Sheet code

Select the sheet by clicking Sel.

Select the sheet library and double-click the desired sheet in the browser.

You can first narrow your search results with the column filter function. Set a filter by typing a keyword in the filter field, or click the button and select a keyword from a list. For example, to filter only sheets of a certain size, type a keyword in the filter box in the Sheet code column. Press the Enter key to filter. Press the Enter key to filter.

Select Use default sheet when you want to use the default sheet size set for the material in the sheet library.

Set the Default Sheet

Gap

Determine the gap for the seams of the sheathing. Select either of the following:

• Default - By default, a gap is not set for the seams.
• Set - Enter the gap dimensions in the text fields:
  • Width - The gap in the shorter direction of the sheet.
  • Length - The gap in the longer direction of the sheet.

Flip

Select the sheathing angle in relation to the frame layer framing from the list. For example, select the tool Staggered:

Rotate sheets at wide openings

The program will rotate the sheet if the seams are located at the opening edges and the area below or above the opening can be covered with one rotated sheet.

Align

Select where to start sheathing in the X axis direction. For example, tool Staggered, Angle = 0, Layout direction = From bottom to top.

Left

Right

Middle - The center of the sheet is positioned to the center of the area.

Parts - The sheets are aligned according to frame parts.

Layout direction

Select where to start sheathing in the Y axis direction. For example, tool Staggered, Angle = 0, Align = Left.

From top to bottom

From bottom to top

Offset in sheet’s width and height directions

Enter an offset for the origin of the sheathing area in x and y axis directions of the sheathing area.

• Width: offset in the x axis direction of the sheathing area
• Height: offset in the y axis direction of the sheathing area

The location of the origin depends on the choices you make in Align and Layout direction. If the sheathing area has been divided into fields, all fields will have the same offset except in the following cases:

• the length of the sheathing area is smaller than the length of the sheet in that direction
• the field is a bracing area

Alignment Rules

Align

When this feature is enabled, the program tries to align the seams of the sheathing to the frame parts. If necessary, the program resizes the sheet. Select the sheet edges to be aligned:

• Both sheet edges
• Sides only - Side is the longer edge of the sheet.
• Ends only - End is the shorter edge of the sheet.

When you select No alignment, the edges are not aligned with the frame parts.

The minimum overlap

If the sheet overlaps the frame part at least for the minimum overlap, and the frame part also has space for the next sheet, the edge of this sheet will not be moved when aligning the sheets.

Connect adjacent studs

If alignment is enabled, the program creates a block from adjacent frame parts. The sheet seam can be located anywhere in the block, if the value of the parameter The minimum overlap is sufficient.

Other Rules

Adjust the widths so that last sheet's width is at least x mm

If the last sheet in the sheathing direction is narrower than this width, the program widens it by moving the sheet seam, so that the previous sheet becomes narrower. If the alignment rule is used, the seam is positioned on the frame part. Otherwise, the sheet width is set to the value entered in the field.

If the width is less than the value in the Do not add a narrower sheet than field, the widths will not be changed but that sheet will be removed.

Note: The width of the last sheet is also affected by the edge detail of the layer. The sheet cannot be wider than the maximum width given in the edge detail. See Edit the Edge Detail of a Sheathing.

Sheet break to opening wider than

The sheet seam is located at the edge of the opening when the opening is wider than the given value.

Minimum allowed seam distance

Enter the minimum distance from the seam of the layer where the sheets are to be added to the seam of the other sheathing layer.

• Inner layer - The layer is closer to the frame layer than the layer where the sheets are to be added.
• Outer layer - The layer is further from the frame layer than the layer where the sheets are to be added.

Allowed widths

Predefined sheet sizes. If the sheet needs to be resized for alignment, the program will try to use the sizes given here.

Opening Offsets