Role of Sheathing in Structural Resistance

What happens here

The sheathing itself plays a crucial role in resisting uplift and preventing the wall from racking (shearing sideways). If sheathing is not properly nailed (e.g., inadequate nail spacing or wrong nail type), the wall can still rack, even if it's initially installed correctly. The thousands of nails used in sheathing create shear force connections that effectively hold the entire structure together, making it resistant to lateral forces.

Goal: Understand how sheathing resists uplift and racking forces.