QA

Quick Answer: How To Plywood A Roof

Can you use plywood on a roof?

Exterior Plywood is the preferred material for roofing. It also performs well when exposed to moisture over long periods of time. Some types of plywood are used for roofing, Construction structural, and general plywood, and CDX plywood. Construction structural plywood has good strength, performance and durability.

How thick should the plywood be for a roof?

Most roofs will be sheathed in plywood at least 3/8 inch thick. That will suffice on a roof with rafters set 16 inches apart with minimal roof loads. Loads will vary with the pitch of the roof; the flatter the roof, the greater the load on any one section. Steeper roofs will have lighter loads per square foot.

What goes over plywood on roof?

Roof sheathing, also known as roof decking, is a layer of plywood or OSB that covers the trusses and joists, which are the beams that make up the roof’s skeleton shape. Roof sheathing goes above the roof’s framework but below its shingles. That is because roofing shingles and tiles need a layer of support to rest on.

Do you have to stagger plywood on a roof?

Plywood panels should be laid with the face grain perpendicular to the rafter boards. The panels should be installed over two or more spans, with the long dimension or strength axis oriented across the rafter boards or truss cords. Staggering panels by at least two supports is recommended.

What can I use for roof sheathing?

Oriented Strand Board (OSB) or plywood can be used, although plywood will provide higher nail head pull-through resistance. Use panels rated as “Exposure 1” or better. Install sheathing panels according to the recommendations of the Engineered Wood Association (APA). Use panels no smaller than 4 feet long.

How thick should plywood be for a shed roof?

Plywood thicknesses for roofs start at 3/8” in areas with light load requirements on rafters at 16” centers. Thicknesses of 1/2 to 5/8 inch are common with rafters spaced at 24” centers. For heavy load rated areas, 3/4-inch-thick plywood is recommended, regardless of rafter spacing.

Which is better for roofing OSB or plywood?

Plywood Holds the Moisture Advantage Over OSB When plywood gets wet, it tends to swell. OSB takes longer than plywood to get saturated, but also takes much longer to dry out. When used as roof sheathing, this tendency to hold moisture means it will degrade faster than plywood when exposed to chronic leaks.

How much is a sheet of roofing plywood?

The thicker the plywood your roofer uses, the more expensive the job will be. Your price could vary depending on how much the roofing company charges for labor, but generally, you can expect to spend between $70 to $100 for each sheet of plywood.

Should you use tongue and groove OSB for roof sheathing?

Tongue & Groove Boards T&G roof decking, however, looks classy and rich. In fact, T&G boards are most frequently used when the sheathing is visible from the inside such as in cathedral ceilings or in some cabin-style homes, especially if the span of the rafters is greater than 2 feet.

How many sheets of plywood do you need for a roof?

Divide the total roof area by 32 to get the number of sheets you will need to cover the roof. A typical 4 foot by 8 foot sheet of plywood covers 32 square feet. If your roof area is 1,600 square feet, 1,600 divided by 32 will mean you need about 50 sheets to cover the roof.

What is the minimum thickness of roof sheathing?

Sheathing must be a minimum of 19/32-inch thick. Never affix roof sheathing with staples; 8d ring-shank nails need to be used instead. The normal thickness range for sheathing is 3/8 to 3/4 inch.

What’s the best wood to use for a roof?

Cedar has earned a reputation for being strong, flexible, and weather resistant – qualities that make for an effective roofing shingle. Among roofing shingle manufacturers, cedar is the go-to material, all thanks to its durability.

How far should roof sheathing overhang fascia?

Ideally the sheathing should be on top of the fascia without extending beyond it. Guesswork can create a situation in which it extends too far and it interferes with flashing installation, or you have to cut it. If the fascia is to be one layer of 1x, I overhang the sheathing 5/8.

Should sheathing be staggered?

Most installations are Category 1, but the critical criteria in all categories is that the panels MUST fully meet (lap) the sill plate, both top plates and 1/2 of stud at ends. (Please stagger nailing into studs where the panels end, to avoid splitting of stud.)Jul 17, 2017.

Should roof sheathing overlap fascia?

When sheathing a roof, the first step is to snap a line so that the first row goes on straight. But if you snap it at 40 inches, then the sheathing will not project over the subfascia or true fascia. This opens the door to the possibility of water damage by letting gravity work against you. Don’t do that.

Should I nail or screw roof sheathing?

Now, however, experts almost universally recommend using 8D common nails. “Your roof will be more resistant to heavy winds if you use the right nails to secure the sheathing,” according to James Bedford of Fort Collins Roofing in Fort Collins, Colo.

Is it better to nail or screw roof sheathing?

Nails are often preferred for structural joining, including framing walls, because they are more flexible under pressure, whereas screws can snap. Nails are also called upon when securing plywood sheathing for exterior walls, installing hardwood floors, and attaching siding and roofing.

What is the cheapest way to roof a shed?

In most cases, MSR roll roofing is the cheapest shed roof material you can buy. Roll roofing is also the easiest shed roof to install because you can cover large areas quickly by simply rolling it out and nailing it down.

What type of plywood should I use on a shed roof?

thick plywood works well for wall and roof sheathing, but use at least five-eighths in. plywood for your shed floor. Ordinary exterior-grade plywood is made with weather-resistant glue, but the wood itself is not particularly rot resistant. This is why pressure-treated plywood is best for a shed floor.