Figure 1-5.—Methods of sill fastening to foundations.
Figure 1-6.—Spacing of anchor bolts.
install the washers and nuts. As the nuts are tightened,
make sure the sills are properly aligned. Also, check the
distance from the edge of the foundation wall. The sill
must be level and straight. Low spots can be shimmied
with wooden wedges, but it is better to use grout or
mortar.
FASTENING TO FOUNDATION WALLS
Wood sills are fastened to masonry walls by
1/2-inch anchor bolts. These bolts, also known as j-bolts
because of their shape, should be embedded 15 inches
or more into the wall in unreinforced concrete (fig. 1-5,
view A) and a minimum of 7 inches into reinforced
concrete (view B). The length of the anchor bolt is found
in the specifications; the spacing and location of the
bolts are shown on the drawings. If this information is
not available, anchor bolt spacing should not exceed 6
feet on center (OC). Also, a bolt must be placed within
1 foot of the ends of each piece (as shown in fig. 1-6).
There are alternative ways to fasten sill plates to
foundations. Location and building codes will dictate
which to use. Always consult the job specifications
before proceeding with construction.
1-3
