The kings do interrupt the ties. Yes, all of the walls will be vertically boarded. I only stayed for the frame raising, but will get more pics of the finish later. The way the kings worked like a keystone was amazing. When we were pounding in the summers near the center there absolutely no movement at all on the kings. We had to do it that way because the owner needed a clear span and we didn't hane long enough timbers. Even the ends had to have scarfs.