QA

Question: How To Install A Sill Plate

How do you attach a sill plate to a foundation?

What do you put under sill plate?

The best way to air seal the sill plate is to place a sill sealer (also called a sill gasket) on the concrete before laying down the sill plate. Sill sealer is a pliable foam product that is available in varying widths up to 10 inches wide.

How do you attach a sill plate to concrete?

How to Attach Sill Plates to Concrete Position the sill plate in place on the concrete slab or foundation. Drill holes through both the sill plate and into the concrete, using a concrete masonry drill-bit. Insert one wedge anchor bolt set into each drilled hole and hammer it into place with a hammer.

What is the difference between a sole plate and a sill plate?

The sole plate, also sometimes referred to as the sill plate, the mud sill, or the base plate, is the main supporting beam of a wall in the construction industry. Typically, these are the first piece of wood that is in contact with the masonry of the basement or foundation.

What should I put between wood and concrete?

Anyplace where wood meets the ground or concrete, the lumber must be pressure treated. For additional moisture protection, a gasket or strip of closed-cell foam can be installed between the concrete foundation and the sill plate.

Can you put wood directly on concrete?

YES. Any exterior concrete that is in contact with earth may wick moisture. Thus, it is required to place pressure treated wood directly against the concrete if one wishes next to build off that concrete with untreated wood.

How thick should a sill plate be?

1 Bottom Plates. Studs shall have full bearing on a 2-inch-thick (actual 11/2-inch, 38 mm) or larger plate or sill having a width not less than equal to the width of the studs.

How do you attach wood to concrete without drilling?

Attaching wood with epoxy A common way to secure wooden items to concrete without drill is by using epoxy glue systems. This glue is specifically manufactured for these problems. Before opting for this method, you need to thoroughly clean off and dry the wood for them to bond correctly.

What size anchors for sill plate?

Foundation plates or sills shall be bolted or anchored to the foundation with not less than 1/2-inch-diameter (12.7 mm) steel bolts or approved anchors spaced to provide equivalent anchorage as the steel bolts.

What kind of wood do you use for a sill plate?

Sill Plate is a tough, versatile pressure-treated lumber. Like borate-treated lumber, it’s guaranteed to stop termites and prevent decay, plus it’s compatible with carbon steel (black iron) fasteners. But unlike borate-treated lumber, it requires no special handling.

What is the proper spacing between foundation anchor bolts?

Interior braced wall plates shall have anchor bolts spaced at not more than 6 feet (1829 mm) on center and located within 12 inches (305 mm) of the ends of each plate section where supported on a continuous foundation.

What is the minimum number of anchor bolts required for anchoring a 12 foot section of wood sill plate to a foundation?

There shall be a minimum of two bolts per plate section with one bolt located not more than 12 inches (305 mm) or less than seven bolt diameters from each end of the plate section.

Is a sill plate necessary?

The sill plate is an essential part of any building structure because it serves the purpose of making an even and flat surface on which to build the framing for construction projects. It’s never a good idea to mount them directly onto a foundation without a sill plate.

Do you have to use pressure treated wood on concrete?

Pressure-treated wood is required whenever you attach framing lumber or furring strips directly to concrete or other exterior masonry walls below grade. Note that this requirement is only for exterior walls, as these may wick moisture onto the lumber.

How do you keep water from going under a sill plate?

A filler, similar to caulk, is generally used to seal these gaps between the sill plate and foundation when the home is constructed. Over time it can crack and chip, allowing water to seep — or even pour — into the basement.

Will treated wood rot in concrete?

Simply setting the posts in concrete does create a condition that will accelerate rot in the bottom of the posts. With pressure-treated posts, the rot will be slow. This allows any moisture that gets between the concrete and the bottom of the post to percolate through the gravel and away from the bottom of the post.

Do I need a moisture barrier between concrete and wood?

In most cases, either pressure-treated lumber or naturally durable lumber (defined by the IRC as the heartwood of redwood, cedar, black locust, and black walnut) is acceptable. In some cases, separating wood from concrete with a water-impervious membrane or vapor retarder is all that’s required.

How do you attach pressure-treated wood to concrete?

The fastest and easiest way to attach most wood parts to concrete is to use a powder-actuated gun. To use it, load a special gun nail and a . 22 caliber gun shell into the barrel. Press the nose against the workpiece, pull the trigger and the shell will drive the fastener directly into the concrete.

Can I use cedar for a sill plate?

I wouldn’t trust cedar to be strong enough for a sill plate, but even if it was, I’ve seen bugs eating it (cedar shingles and siding). Yeah it’s better than pine for resisting bugs (for a while), but bugs will attack any soft and chewy wood and cedar will eventually lose it’s protective oils.