Sheathing is a crucial component in building construction, serving as a barrier against moisture and ensuring the stability and durability of buildings. It typically starts at the end of a wall or overlaps one stud width to cap an adjacent wall. Carpenters should not lap the extra half inch for several reasons, including the need to erect the wall, level the floor, and make repairs to the floor. The International Residential Code specifies 3/8-inch plywood for sheathing walls with a standard stud spacing of 16 inches.
Sheathing acts as a barrier against moisture, preventing it from penetrating the walls and compromising structural integrity. With proper installation and the right choice of materials, such as water-resistant or water-resistant materials, sheathing can be installed properly. Any type of wall sheathing should extend past the first-floor rim joists to the bottom edge of the mudsills. Nailing the sheathing to the mudsills provides a structural connection between the walls and the foundation.
For a one-story house, the sheathing should extend from the bottom of the lowest framing member to the top of the highest framing member. The proper way to start sheathing an exterior wall is to have an even 1/8″ gap between each sheet, the same height as the next one. Wood frame exterior walls must be fully sheathed, including areas above or below wall openings, with a minimum 7/16-in. wall continuously.
The minimum length of full-height sheathing should be not less than 20% of the braced wall line length. A minimum of 3/8″ between the sheathing and concrete is required, and a sill seal is used to break capillarity at this location.
📹 A lesson about Wall Sheathing in Residential Construction – TEACH Construction Trades Training
This lesson video covers the basics of sheathing in residential wall framing construction as part of our framing series. Learn about …
What is the required gap at the edges of wall sheathing panels?
The American Society of Appraisers (APA) recommends a 1/8-inch space between panel edge and end joints for plywood and oriented strand board (OSB) to minimize expansion and buckling, which can lead to costly and time-consuming callbacks. To ensure best performance, follow these panel spacing and nailing recommendations for APA Rated Sheathing, APA Rated Sturd-I-Floor®, and APA Rated Siding. Spacer-type panel edge clips may be used for roof sheathing applications.
Panel spacing is not a requirement, and some manufacturers may require a space during installation. Panel buckling may be an aesthetic or serviceability issue, not a structural deficiency. Gaps initially present may have closed due to normal moisture-related expansion. If the flatness of sheathing or flooring panels is acceptable, APA generally recommends installing finish flooring, siding, or roofing as planned, regardless of gaps present.
How far should sheathing overlap foundation?
The author is considering using 10′ zip sheathing and installing vertically, as permitted by Huber and building codes. This would allow for flexibility in overlapping the sheathing and slab by 3/8″ or flushing the sheathing and mudsill into the 2nd top plate. Conservation Technologies EPDM sill gasket at the mudsill and Huber Zip liquid flashing will be used to flash the sheathing, mudsill, and foundation joint. The rainscreen and flashing details will overhang the foundation by at least 2″.
Water and moisture concerns are less, but condensation wicking and thermal bridging between the back side of the sheathing and slab are concerns. If the sheathing is lapped over the slab, the first couple of inches of the zip board will be treated or taped to mitigate these issues.
What is the sheathing is applied to exterior walls?
Exterior sheathing is a board or panel made of various materials used to provide structural support and insulation to the exterior walls of a home. It can be grouped into two categories: structural sheathing and non-structural sheathing. These types can be used together or individually depending on the building, and both contribute significantly to the overall structure and function of the walls. The purpose of exterior wall sheathing varies depending on the type of sheathing used.
What is the best sheathing for exterior walls?
Plywood is a popular material for external structural sheathing, consisting of multiple thin layers of wood laid in opposite directions. This creates a more stable and structurally sound sheath for the exterior. Plywood is easy to install, placing it vertically flush with the building’s edge and using 2-inch nails 6 inches apart on the edges and 12 inches apart on the center. It is more dimensionally stable than OSB and does not require spacing between sheets.
To ensure proper installation, start the next row at least 3 stud bays off from the first and mark door and window openings with tick marks. For best installation practices, use house wrap over the plywood before installing the siding.
What is the minimum gap dimension between exterior plywood sheathing?
The American Society of Appraisers (APA) recommends a 1/8-inch space between panel edge and end joints for plywood and oriented strand board (OSB) to minimize expansion and buckling, which can lead to costly and time-consuming callbacks. To ensure best performance, follow these panel spacing and nailing recommendations for APA Rated Sheathing, APA Rated Sturd-I-Floor®, and APA Rated Siding. Spacer-type panel edge clips may be used for roof sheathing applications.
Panel spacing is not a requirement, and some manufacturers may require a space during installation. Panel buckling may be an aesthetic or serviceability issue, not a structural deficiency. Gaps initially present may have closed due to normal moisture-related expansion. If the flatness of sheathing or flooring panels is acceptable, APA generally recommends installing finish flooring, siding, or roofing as planned, regardless of gaps present.
What size is standard sheathing?
Sheathing is a type of roofing material that typically ranges in thickness from 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch, with the most common thicknesses being 7/16, 1/2, and 5/8 of an inch.
Where should the sheathing be placed on the bottom of a wall?
When installing wall sheathing, it is recommended to overlap the foundation and install flashing to direct moisture away. This is especially important when the wall sheathing overlaps the sill plate, as it can seal the sill. Proper wall sheathing installation helps protect homes from wind and water penetration. The installation instructions for LP WeatherLogic panels include providing a 1/2-inch gap between the bottom edge of the panel and the foundation when the panel is flush with the foundation face. This ensures that the sheathing is properly installed and protected from potential damage.
What is standard sheathing?
Standard dry sheathing, an unsaturated felt composed of organic fibers, is employed in a variety of applications, including beneath hardwood flooring, over wooden decks in build-up roofing, and as a floor protector.
How deep is plywood sheathing?
In the context of residential construction, the use of a rated sheathing panel, such as oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood, with a thickness of 0. 95 cm (or 3/8 in), is a standard practice. This sheathing is comparable to that used for shear wall sections. Nevertheless, it is customary to utilise sheathing thicknesses that exceed the prescribed minimums, a practice colloquially termed as “over-sheathing.”
How to calculate exterior wall sheathing?
To determine the number of sheathing boards needed for a project, measure the length and height of each wall, multiply the width and height for total exterior square feet, and divide the exterior square feet by the square feet of a single sheet of sheathing. For example, a 15-foot long wall with a 10-foot wide sheathing board would require 150 total exterior square feet, divided by 32 square feet of a single sheet of sheathing. This simplifies to 4. 7 boards needed to cover the one wall’s surface.
How low should sheathing be?
The nail trick is a method used to align sheets on a slab, making it easier to align them. Dropping the sheathing down below the sill plate can be done with enough clearance, but it can make it harder to align. The primary reason why the sheathing usually doesn’t go lower is to prevent water from wicking up into the sheathing. If the sheathing is dropped down 1″, the siding should be dropped down an additional inch below the sheathing, which is 2″ below the plate.
If you want to raise the sheathing up, you can raise it slightly, but you cannot compromise the perimeter nailing pattern, as it’s inspected for shear nailing. It is recommended to keep the sheathing, siding, trim boards, and trim boards 6″ off the ground. If you can’t, use a product that won’t rot when exposed to water or cover the project with water protection. Flashing can be installed along the lower edge of the sheathing before installing the siding.
📹 Wall Framing Sequence and Sheathing Patterns
In other animations, we showed how to frame and sheathe a simple floor like this. In this animation, we’re going to dig into this pile …
When you make the framing you should check for square when on the floor and lock down with 2×4’s place diagonal across framing section(on inner side). After elevating and sheathing you may remove diagonal bracing..This will ensure a square frame so no racking is required with the sheathing panels/frame..
measure in 5 1/2 inches for 2×6 walls. measure the length of the walls and square up the floor before you chalk out your lines. I like to lay out all my interior walls plus mark out doors and windows. This makes it easy to transfer on to plates without checking the plans plus it makes it easy to mark out overlap plates