02/13/2026
When mechanical ducts and plumbing stacks run through an interior wall, the top and bottom plates often need to be cut — which can interrupt the wall’s structural load path.
That means proper reinforcement is essential, especially in load-bearing walls.
Sheathing the wall with OSB before drywall helps tie the studs together and improves lateral strength — but it does not replace structural reinforcement at plate cuts.
