Abstract: A wooden stud wall having top and sole plates between which are fastened spaced, upright studs is provided with a brace comprising a metal strap oriented diagonally to the stud wall with the ends of the strap bent over and rigidly fastened as by nailing to respective upper and lower surfaces of the top and sole plates. The strap, which desirably is of 16 gauge steel, and about 2 inches in width, crosses the upright studs at an oblique angle at spaced points along the strap length. The strap may be fastened to the stud wall by nails driven through preformed holes in the strap ends, and may be fastened to the upright studs which it crosses by nails driven through spaced, preformed holes along the length of the strap.