On Dec 7, 4:22*am, Phisherman wrote:
On Sat, 6 Dec 2008 14:51:48 -0800 (PST), Aaron Fude

wrote:

Hi,

If I have an 8'x8' wall and I will hang two sheets of drywall on it,
should I hang them vertically or horizontally or does it not matter -
and why.

Many thanks in advance.

Aaron

But the preferred way is to minimize the seams to mud and tape.
Strange as it is, drywall is 2--3X stronger lengthwise than crosswise.

Where are you guys getting this "information" that advances the notion
that one hanging configuration is MUCH stronger than the other?

I have actually tested 100's of shear walls (gyp, plywood, OSB,
stucco; wood framed, light gage steel framed) and the data just does
not support a huge strength increase for drywall Horz vs Vert.

btw drywall can deliver only about 10 to 20% of the shear capacity of
a comparable plywood shear wall, so to even be discussing drywall
"shear wall" is a bit silly. Yes, there are LOTS of drywall walls in
the typical house compared to the amount of plywood or OSB. In parts
of the country where one really needs shear capacity (high wind or
earthquake country)

Shear wall performance is driven by many competing & interrelated
factors; sheathing material, blocked vs unblocked, fastener schedule,
fastener size sheathing .......sheathing orientation is, at best, a
second order effect.

cheers
Bob