Figure 1-6.—Spacing of anchor bolts.

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