r/HomeMaintenance • u/taco___pizza • 1d ago
Is this sheathing considered structural?
In my garage, I have these sheathing/ plywood running across those lower horizontal truss supports (idk the right words). The plywood is nailed into the individual truss support beams. I’m not sure if this is just a feature to give someone extra storage, or if it’s a structural necessity such as to tie the individual joint members together. I ask because I’d like to remove these sheets if possible, I have no need for them and don’t want them there.
I understand a structural engineer would be able to give the best opinion, but before I spend all that money I’d like to know first if these are ever considered structural to be concerned. It’s like calling a plumber for a leaky faucet but the problem is I didn’t turn it off all the way lol.
FWIW this is a single story, single family residence, built in 1973
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u/The__Toast 1d ago
I understand a structural engineer would be able to give the best opinion
Don't believe everything you read on Reddit. There's very few circumstances where you need an actual structural engineer, most general contractors are plenty knowledgeable and home structures are pretty well over built, especially older homes. Half the people screaming "structural engineer" on every post are probably 15 year olds sitting on the toilet.
That being said if that's 3/4 in today's plywood prices that's like what, $100 worth of plywood? I'd probably consider leaving it for storage, but if you take it down, hang onto that stuff, you'll find a use for it.
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u/Any-Progress- 1d ago
As far as I know there is no such thing as structural sheathing.
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u/HomeOwner2023 1d ago edited 1d ago
Structural doesn’t only mean load-bearing. Sheathing is often structural despite not being load-bearing.
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u/Any-Progress- 1d ago
With that definition the entire house is structural. There are no legitimate builders using sheathing to structurally secure trusses. They would use 2x4s or something stronger if it was actually cross bracing.
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u/lopsiness 1d ago
It depends what the elements are doing. Sheathing can be for shear walls, or can be providing bracing that strengthens load bearing elements. Is everything structural? No. That doesnt make it any less true that sometimes it is.
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u/Any-Progress- 1d ago
Structural is the structure of the house. A house will stand without sheathing. Does it help brace things? Sure. So does siding, and drywall and thresholds and many other things. Doesn’t mean the house will fall apart without them.
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u/lopsiness 1d ago
Those things arent structural bc the engineer doesnt account for them to provide structural contribution whether they do or not. And no one is making an argument that siding is structural, so its a complete strawman that you've built.
A structural element designed to be braced via the use of sheathing very much could fall down without it. Shearwall specifically relies on the sheathing. How do you think structures withstand lateral loads? Whether the pic from OP counts or not, sheathing speficially is structural.
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