Standing Strong: Building with Pre-fab Panels

For home construction jobs involving structural framing, a key issue to be aware of the need to provide adequate wall bracing. Residential building codes typically require bracing to help homes resist the lateral (or sideways) forces placed on them by high winds and earthquakes.

While providing wall bracing can appear daunting for both the hard-core do-it-yourselfer—and even some professional builders—an understanding of the general concepts and requirements can help get you started. Knowing why wall bracing is required, and what options are available, will give you a background to better understand code requirements, or to work more closely with other professionals you may engage to assist in your building project.

Importance of Wall Bracing

When high winds or seismic forces act on a home, it is subjected to two potential types of damage: 1) uplift and overturning, and 2) shearing. Uplift and overturning is essentially the house tipping over, either as a whole, or more commonly, the walls being pushed out of alignment with the roof and floors. “Shearing” means that the house slides off its foundation. In either case, if the lateral force is strong enough, the damage to the home can be severe. The result is expensive repairs (or even the need for complete reconstruction) and potential injury to the people living inside.