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Double sided shear wall (OSB) detail question – GreenBuildingAdvisor
- March 13, 2026
- Posted by: sherwin@eyeconz.com
- Category: Uncategorized
I have a house I’m building that requires a couple of the 2×6 exterior walls to have 1/2” OSB on either side of the wall for shear resistance. The wall will have R21 fiberglass batts inside. Exterior has a furred out rain screen assembly for ventilation and a vapor permeable WRB. I’m in climate zone 8 (Northern MN)so it gets very cold here and for quite a while. Would the best place for the vapor retarder be against the studs on the interior side with the OSB directly over it? Or the vapor retarder between the OSB and drywall? I myself think it would be best applied directly to the studs, but maybe I’m wrong
I also have a garage going up so this will apply the same to it as it’s getting OSB on the inside and out. The ceiling is also getting OSB, strapping and then drywall attached to that (I know it’s a lot of material for a ceiling but there is a reason for it). R48 cellulose is getting blown in in the attic. For that assembly, my assumption is that the poly vapor barrier should be placed directly to the truss bottom chords with OSB nailed to that? (Sandwiching the VB between OSB and the trusses)
Just want to make sure I don’t have any durability/moisture issues down the road with either scenario. Thanks all