How To Nail Roof Sheathing

Roof sheathing comes in grid marked 4 by 8 foot sheets and should be installed perpendicular to the frame.

How to nail roof sheathing. I ll be using 3 8 plywood sheathing on 2x8s with 16 centers. Keep these tips in mind when roofing in hurricane areas. Use a 10d box 0 128 inch by 3 inch nail as a spacer to gauge 1 8 inch edge and end spacing between panels. 8d ring shank nails should be used instead.

A structure s roof truss spacing can vary from every 12 to 24 inches. For sub floor sheathing 16 o c use a min of 5 8 t g plywood or 3 4 t g osb. I read something that said the sheathing should be nailed on with 8d nails where i was planning to use 1 1 2 ringed plywood nails. During a hurricane the strength of the sheathing on the roof can greatly impact the homes ability to weather the storm.

Boards used for sheathing range from those with a 4 inch face to 48 inch long plywood sheets. The roof s sheathing helps to keep the roof trusses or rafters properly spaced and is the strength that holds the entire roof together. I m adding a deck with roof to the side of my house. This video shows how some roofs fail under heavy winds in uplift situations.

Nail this sheathing into place with a framing nailer. The number of nails needed for a roof varies on multiple factors such as board face width length and roof truss spacing. The problem exists because nail sizes and spacing used to attach the sheathing to the roof s structural members rafters or trusses do not provide enough strength to keep the sheathing on. The typical thickness range for sheathing is 3 8 to 3 4 inch.

The connection between the roof sheathing and the structure is a vulnerable point that is known to fail during a hurricane. Never attach roof sheathing with staples. Nail or staple sheets at 6 centers for middle rows and 3 centers for the edge rows. Additional 3 nails or staples into the sub fascia and ridge blocking in between the trusses.

Roof sheathing panel spacing hints.