Roof Sheathing Should Be Installed

In areas where the wind speed is greater than 130 mph nails for attaching the roof sheathing to intermediate supports should be spaced 6 inches on center for at least the first 48 inches from the ridges eaves and gable end walls.

Roof sheathing should be installed.

Sheathing is installed perpendicular to roof trusses. In this case to keep the panel s strength axis perpendicular to the hip trusses the panels on the hip roof portion must be installed with their long dimension oriented up and down the slope. This can cause a problem because while the hip trusses maintain their normal spacing e g. Local roof repair contractors inspect the sheathing during maintenance repairs and especially during roof replacement.

If the top chords of trusses or rafters are warped or bowed install blocking to straighten. 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. This can be done with a straight piece of lumber 6 feet to 10 feet long or a long carpenter s level. 8d ring shank nails should be used instead.

Never attach roof sheathing with staples. Trusses or rafters should be shimmed as necessary to provide a level nailing surface. There should be at least 3 8 inch of space between the fastener and the panel edge. Roof sheathing comes in grid marked 4 by 8 foot sheets and should be installed perpendicular to the frame.

The first thing we check is the thickness of the material used. 24 inches on center the actual distance between panel supports measured along the slope is greater than the truss spacing. Sheathing should be a minimum of 19 32 inch thick.