Roof Sheathing Should Be Installed Parallel To The Rafters

Roof sheathing or decking is one of those elements.

Roof sheathing should be installed parallel to the rafters.

The strength axis is usually the long direction of the panel but the grade stamp will indicate it. It is important here that the sheathing at the eave line be exactly perpendicular to the rafters so that the sheets will meet at the centers of the rafters. Having said that it is very important that the sheathing be installed with the strength axis perpendicular to the trusses rafters. Rafters should be straight and in alignment during the installation of sheathing.

Roof sheathing should be installed to the rafters. To stabilize the rafters support the roofing material and hold the entire roof together roof sheathing is installed. 8d ring shank nails should be used instead. Slide the sheet one rafter width over the end of the roof so the edge is centered on the next rafter offset one rafter spacing from the first piece of installed sheathing from the row below.

Roof sheathing comes in grid marked 4 by 8 foot sheets and should be installed perpendicular to the frame. The typical thickness range for sheathing is 3 8 to 3 4 inch. The skeleton of a roof is formed with rafters or trusses generally spaced 16 inches or 24 inches apart from the center of one rafter to the center of the next. We could in theory credit a plywood panel installed perpendicular to the rafters with the higher shear force in that one direction but we would be forced to accept the basic code value in the opposite direction.

Never attach roof sheathing with staples. This will help keep everything square and aligned while the sheathing panels are laid down and fastened. Begin applying the sheets from the bottom of the roof the eaves and work your way up to the ridge. In the u s roof sheathing is almost always composed of wood usually osb oriented strand board or plywood.

A roof system consists of several elements working together to protect the home. Roof sheathing is another matter since roofs experience forces applied both parallel and perpendicular to the long direction of the plywood. Osb is lightweight relatively inexpensive and strong enough to resist bending or breaking should. Common roof sheathing materials include several types which are chosen depending on the budget and weather conditions of the area.

It is common for framing supports such as roof trusses to be spaced 24 inches on center.