Roofing sheathing installation

Roof sheathing or decking is an important layer of the roof that sits hidden underneath the top layer of shingles.

It is most commonly made out of plywood in the form of planks or roof boards. These boards can be installed in two different ways and based on the installation method, we can differentiate between two types of roof sheathing.

The sheathing can be either open, with gaps between the roof boards, or closed, with no gaps between them. Ultimately, the type of sheathing you and your roofer opt for will depend on the needs of your roof structure. Before sheathing became standard on roofs, most roofs simply had a layer of boards underneath the shingles. Sheathing solves this problem by providing a more continuous, solid layer beneath the shingles that has far fewer gaps or spaces.

Proper sheathing is often the key difference between a roof that constantly leaks and a roof that hardly ever does. The sheathing layer is also a vital part of the support and structure for the rest of the roof. It provides an anchorage for the shingles to be firmly nailed to and, overall, an excellent foundation for all the external roof materials. All these materials, namely asphalt shingles, metal panels or shingles and similar, are smaller in size and require a broad and sturdy base where they can be safely and firmly attached.

Sheathing provides great support for this exact purpose. Roof sheathing thickness, i. Their thickness can vary and reach as much as 5 inches. And the thicker the boards are, the heavier and sturdier they will be. This is important because heavier shingles will need heavier sheathing to support them adequately. Your roofer will ensure that the sheathing is as thick and sturdy as it should be, providing optimal structural support to the shingles.

In addition to anchoring the shingles, the sheathing provides broader roof support by evenly distributing any extra loads the roof may carry. This includes snow and other accumulation. It also allows more hardware, such as solar panels, to be safely mounted on the roof without causing damage.

Roof sheathing is one of the first elements a contractor is likely to inspect when planning a solar or HVAC installation, for example. This is because the sheathing effectively disperses this extra weight across the rafters and other supporting elements of the roof.

It prevents sagging and partial roof collapses. Roof sheathing thickness is an important aspect here as well. The sheathing planks can be as little as one inch thick and as much as five inches thick. The thinner planks will decrease the overall weight of the roof as well as its cost, and the thicker ones will increase them.

Your local roofer will advise you on the best solution based on the state of your roof, its needs, the weather your area gets, and the amount of support the roof requires. Generally, thicker sheathing will provide better load tolerance, as well as overall durable and long-lasting protection for the entire roof and your property.

Reflective roof sheathing functions to provide better thermal protection for homes by reflecting the sun and preventing the attic from overheating. This, in turn, causes the entire home to heat up more, leading to higher cooling needs and energy consumption.

With reflective roof sheathing, on the other hand, the heat transfer from the shingles to the attic will be significantly decreased, leading to a cooler home, lower energy consumption, and reduced cooling costs. This can all be achieved simply by installing a radiant barrier on the sheathing.

The radiant barrier will help make the home more energy-efficient, which is especially useful in hot climates or on buildings in such climates that may have less insulation.

Avoid standing between framing, which can induce panel deflection. For improved performance, consider thicker roof sheathing panels, panel edge clips, or panels with tongue-and-groove edges.

Check building code requirements for installation of panel edge clips. Edge clip requirements depend on the relationship of the panel Span Rating to the actual distance between roof framing. Spacing hints: Use a 10d box 0. Spacer-type panel edge clips are available from some manufacturers.

If necessary, trim panel ends to center on framing. Remove wrinkles and flatten surface of shingle underlayment before installing asphalt or fiberglass shingles. Shingle hints: If using asphalt or fiberglass shingles, postpone shingle installation as long as possible. This will provide time for roof sheathing to adjust to humidity and moisture conditions. For best appearance, use heavier weight shingles, or laminated or textured shingles.

This will mask surface imperfections and reduce the risk of shingle ridging. Download PDF 1. We have field representatives in many major U. For additional assistance in specifying engineered wood products, contact us:. Roof decking is a waterproof covering that is applied to the top of a roof.

Roof sheathing is the same thing, though it may also be used to describe various elements of a roof structure. But now that you understand they're the same thing, what exactly is roof decking roof sheathing and how do you distinguish between them?

The wooden boards that make up the foundation of your entire roof system are referred to as roof decking or roof sheathing. Because your roofing is installed on top of the foundation, I like to refer to it as the "foundation.

The roof decking is one of the most essential parts of your roof system. If you don't have one, your roof is standing empty. You've undoubtedly heard about roof decking before, but you may be fuzzy on what it is. You've now acquired all the information you need, and it's time to learn some fascinating facts. You should be aware of the many types of roof decking available and their costs, as well as other factors. Planks and Sheet Decking are the two most common types of wooden roof boards.

Planking was formerly the most widely used decking material. This decking has elongated and rectangular wooden boards in two sizes. The word "plank" refers to a wide range of decking products, including cedar and redwood. You'll still find plank decking on older structures, which is less popular nowadays. If your plank decking has a greater gap than the code allows more on that later , it must be replaced.

The word sheeting refers to flat sheets of wood or sheathing. Plywood is the most common type of sheet decking. OSB oriented strand board is the most popular type of roof decking nowadays. Plywood is still an important component of the building. The most popular wood in houses is OSB.