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Q: In our four-year-old house, there is a wall along one side of the basement stairs that has studs that don't meet the ceiling. The builder said this isn't a problem because it's not a load-bearing wall. What do you think?
—Tom and Patti Brydon, Rockford, Ill
Lay plywood so that its long dimension (the strongest) is perpendicular to joists, rafters, or studs. Stagger the joints, since overall strength suffers when four corners meet.