How Thick Should The Sheathing On Outside Walls Be?

Exterior wall sheathing is a crucial component of a home’s structure, providing structural support for exterior cladding, insulation, and other materials. The recommended thickness for sheathing on exterior walls can vary depending on factors such as building codes and project requirements. Common thickness options include 7/16-inch OSB and 1/2-inch plywood. Sheathing thickness varies according to the spacing between studs, with 5/16-inch being the minimum for studs spaced every 16 inches and 3/8-inch thick for studs spaced every 16 inches.

In standard ICF external walls, six inches of concrete are required, but areas susceptible to high winds require a higher concrete thickness. Wood frame exterior walls must be fully sheathed, including areas above or below wall openings, with a minimum 7/16-in. wood thickness. Foam-board thicknesses range from 3/8 inch to 4 1/4 inches, and for covering existing siding, 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch thicknesses are commonly used. Standard panels are 2 by 8, 4 by 8, and 4 by 9 feet.

Depending on the age of your home, most exterior walls have 7/16 or 1/2 exterior sheathing, either in the form of plywood, fiberboard, OSB, or wood battens for older homes. For larger spans, thicker sheathing may be necessary. Plywood can be structural, so ask your contractor if it is at least 1/2 thick to match the sheathing on the walls.

Structural sheathing panels should consist of a minimum of 7/16-inch-thick (11 mm) oriented strand board or 15/32-inch-thick (12 mm) plywood. A normal thickness is 1/2″, but thinner sheathing can result in higher costs with nominal gains in strength. Nailing schedule is more important than going over 1/2″ in thickness.

How thick should wall lining plywood be?

The Maxi Perforated Panel is a widely utilized product for ceilings, offering perforations and acoustic backing to fulfill acoustic requirements. The product is suitable for walls with a thickness of 12mm, but the panels must be fixed in accordance with the appropriate thickness, for example, 12mm every 400mm or 18mm every 600mm. It is essential that the panels be fixed in a manner that is consistent with the desired thickness.

Are exterior walls 2×4 or 2×6?

Modern conventional home building typically uses 2×4 lumber for exterior walls, but 2×6 framing is a common upgrade required by some local building codes. This framing is 1. 5 times wider and is more expensive due to its higher wood content. Wider boards are used for rafters, floor and ceiling joists, and support columns.

Additionally, many wall supplies need to be upgraded at the new size, including extended window jambs, larger door jambs, extra insulation, and double top and bottom wall plates. The bottom plate typically consists of pressure-treated lumber on the bottom and conventional lumber on top. These additional costs add up, making it a major factor for more homeowners not opting for 2×6 framing.

How thick are exterior walls for insulation?

Insulation systems (EWI) are typically installed using 100mm insulation boards, which can be impractical for certain areas. Thinner systems offer better U-value savings but are more expensive. Installation takes a few days depending on the property’s size, with most completed within 5-7 working days. EWI costs can range from £4, 000 for smaller terraced properties to £14, 000+ for larger detached homes, depending on the size of the house and the number of walls needed.

What is commonly used as exterior wall sheathing?

Plywood sheathing is a type of wood sheathing made from cross-laminated sheets, providing strength and stiffness for expansion and contraction. It is 15-19% lighter and has good moisture resistance. Oriented strand board (OSB) is a durable panel sheathing made from hundreds of thin wood strands hot pressed onto sheets with a wax and resin adhesive. OSB panels are dense and solid, with no soft spots, and do not breath or redistribute water as well as plywood.

OSB is often cheaper but has more volatile pricing. Waferboard sheathing is a manufactured product made by placing small pieces of wood scraps in a hydraulic press and gluing. Although cheaper, waferboard is weaker and less resistant to water.

How thick should plywood be for house exterior?

Standard plywood sheets are typically ½ inch thick, with non-standard thicknesses ranging from 1/8 inch to ¾ inch. Softwood sheets are often combined with ¾ thickness. Standard plywood sizes are slightly thinner in reality. It is used in various industries such as industrial wood, pallets, crates, integrated packaging, foam packaging, services, energy, oil and gas, automotive, aerospace and defense, chemical, plastics, film, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, consumer goods, HVAC and appliances, heavy industrial, pipe, steel, heavy equipment, agriculture, lawn and garden, logistics and transportation, and export compliant lumber and packaging. Companies like Conner Colorado and Guardian Packaging are involved in the distribution of standard plywood.

How thick is a sheathing board in MM?

Sheathing is a fundamental element of a building’s structure, fulfilling a load-bearing function. To ensure adequate resistance to lateral loads, such as wind, the thickness of the sheathing must range from 9mm to 18mm. To remain informed of the latest developments and product enhancements, please refer to the news and product updates section.

What is the best sheathing thickness for exterior walls?

Wood frame exterior and interior walls must be fully sheathed with minimum 7/16-in. wood structural panels, including areas above or below wall openings. Gable end walls must have a minimum of 3/8-in. structural sheathing panels and must be tied to the structure using steel connection plates or straps. Hurricane clips or framing anchors are required on all rafter-to-wall connections. Upper- and lower-story wall sheathing must be nailed to the common rim board.

Intermittent bracing is not allowed on outer walls, and only for interior braced wall lines. Wall sheathing must be nailed to 8d ring shank or 10d nails on 4 inches on center along the edges and 6 inches on center in the field. Structural wood sheathing must be extended to lap the sill plate and nailed to the sill plate using a 4-inch on-center nail pattern along the edges. Shear wall hold-down connectors should be bolted through the stud and water resistive barrier (WRB) installed on the structural sheathing. Proper installation is especially important in hurricane-prone regions and high-wind areas to protect against storm damage.

What thickness of plywood is used for exterior walls?

House frames are made stronger by using plywood to sheath them, providing a surface for siding installation and making the structure stronger. For structures with siding only connected to the plywood sheathing, thicker plywood is required. Standard thickness is ½” thick plywood for walls, but the International Residential Code requires 3/8″ wall sheathing when studs are spaced 16″ apart and siding is attached to the studs.

Local building codes often require 3/8″ plywood for roofing, but using ½” or 5/8″ plywood results in a longer-lasting and safer roof. Thin plywood is often insufficient for roofs, especially in large areas with large spaces between trusses and rafters. Thin plywood also makes it easier for shingles to fly off in high wind situations.

When choosing plywood thicknesses, consider the finished product requirements, such as furniture and construction, and the weather conditions of the building site, especially high winds. It may take only one severe storm to prove the worth of investing in thicker plywood.

How thick should outside walls be?

The thickness of exterior residential walls using ICFs depends on factors like the building’s design and location. Standard ICF walls require six inches of concrete, while areas susceptible to high winds require at least 8 inches. Engineering tables review these factors to determine the concrete core size and rebar layout. ICF reinforced concrete walls are superior to wood framed walls as shear walls.

How thick is exterior sheathing commercial?

Exterior Gypsum Sheathing is a specialized performance panel made of a noncombustible, moisture-resistant core wrapped in glass mat facers. It is available in thicknesses of 1/2″ (12. 7 mm) and 5/8″ (15. 9 mm), with a 48″ width and lengths from 8′ (2440 mm) to 16′ (4880 mm). The panels are manufactured with square edges in both thicknesses and lengths. The panel is manufactured with ASTM C1177, and its cost-efficient performance in multi-family construction since the mid-80s is well-proven.

Gypsum Sheathing offers weather protection, mold resistance, and fire resistance. Its moisture-resistant core and glass mat facers provide extended protection against water and air infiltration, while its anti-microbial core treatment prevents costly mold growth and decay. The panel’s vapor permeability allows exterior walls to release moisture before it becomes a bigger issue.

The 5/8″ (15. 9 mm) Gypsum Sheathing, produced with a Type X core and UL-classified for use in fire-rated assemblies, provides tested resistance to burning and low flame spread and smoke-generated values.

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.