Installing sheathing

Repeat for each wall. Visit Barricade Building Products for more information how to install structural exterior wall sheathing. Preparation for Installing Structural Exterior Wall Sheathing Selecting the wall sheathing product Selecting the best type of sheathing for the project is the first step of installing structural exterior wall sheathing.

Wood-based structural sheathing like plywood, oriented strand board OSB , and waferboard. Gypsum based structural sheathing is a panel-type material made of a noncombustible core, primarily gypsum, with a paper surfacing on the long edges, face, and back.

It is also known as drywall, wallboard, or plasterboard. Glass mat sheathing is like gypsum board but uses a fiberglass barrier instead of a paper material on the outside. Cement board structural sheathing is Portland cement, reinforced with glass-fiber mesh that creates a sheet that attaches to a wall. The tight building envelope protects the wall system from water and air infiltration and contributes towards continuous insulation.

Calculating the quantity of sheathing needed for a project To calculate the number of sheathing boards needed for a project, measure the length and height of each wall.

For example, a wall is 15 feet long and 10 feet wide. The sheathing board is 4 feet by 8 feet. Measuring to the center allows space to nail the sheathing edge to the studs. Wear safety goggles and use a circular saw to cut the boards along the measured lines on the sheathing boards. The vertical installation of structural exterior wall sheathing: Starting at a corner of the framed structure, rest the bottom of the sheathing sheet on the outside lip of the slab, extending past the sill plate.

Cut holes into the sheathing for the windows and doors. Cut the sheathing along the edge of the frame with a reciprocating saw. Place the tip of the saw blade into one of the holes, then activate the saw and saw through the sheathing until you reach the next hole. Repeat this until you cut all four sides. If cutting a hole for a door, have someone hold the sheathing inside the door frame while you cut it so that it doesn't fall on top of you or tear away from the wall frame.

Carson Barrett began writing professionally in He has been published on various websites. By Carson Barrett. Related Articles. Plywood is a wood panel made by pressing together this sheets of wood veneer.

Every other sheet is rotated so that the grain runs perpendicular to the sheets above and below it for added strength. A layer of glue is applied to both sides of each sheet to bond them together. The first panel is installed at the side of the home, with the long edge flush with the corner of the building, and the bottom edge flush with the sill. Do not allow the OSB to extend past the sill plate, as this will cause it to wick up moisture and to potentially swell.

Nail each panel of sheathing into place by driving one, 8d nail every 6-inches along the seams and wherever you find a stud behind its plane. Because OSB can swell slightly on the edges, do not butt edge the panels together when you install.

Instead, drive a nail loosely next to the edge of each panel you install, and install the next panel against the nail. This will create a slight gap for the OSB to swell into.

Plan on installing your siding over the OSB as soon as the sheathing is in place to help avoid any unnecessary exposure of the sheathing to rain or moisture. Fiberboard is an insulating structural sheathing made up of plant cellulose fibers that are mixed with adhesives and given a water resistant coating. Structural fiberboard is often considered a premium material that offers a small measure of insulating and sound reducing properties to the building exterior, along with structural stability.

Structural fiberboard is dimensionally stable. This is also a fairly expensive material. Structural fiberboard has a range of costs depending on its other benefits, and the range of insulation it has. Fiberboard is heavy, so plan on having at least two people to install each panel, as it may be necessary to have a second person to hold it in place while nailing. Like OSB, it can be installed vertically, beginning at the edge of the home or building with the long edge flush to the edge of the studs and the bottom edge reaching to the top of the sill.

Depending on the fiberboard, you may be able to nail straight through, taking care not to nail flush to the board, every 6 inches around the perimeter.

For some specialty boards, you may need to drill pilot holes to make the installation easier. Avoid using screws whenever possible, as the material often strips out screw holes quickly.

Plywood is a frequently used material for external structural sheathing. This creates a much more stable and structurally sound sheath that can be used over the exterior. It has good moisture resistance, and dries quickly so it stays stable long term even in wet climates. Plywood is not as uniform as some other materials.

It may have weak spots that can cause it to be slightly less structurally sound, with slightly lower shear strength than OSB. Plywood is very straightforward and fairly easy to install. Place it vertically, lined up flush with the edge of the building, with the short bottom side installed above the sill plate. Use 2-inch nails roughly 6-inches apart on the edges and no more than inches apart on the center. Plywood is more dimensionally stable than OSB and does not require spacing between the sheets.

Start your next row of sheathing at least 3 stud bays off from the first, rather than lining up the sheets directly on top of one another. For best installation practices, be sure to use house wrap over the plywood prior to installing the siding. Foam board is a non structural sheathing designed to help insulate the home and create a tight building envelope.

Foam board can help make the home more energy efficient, reducing thermal transfer, and helping to cover areas where air leaks are common, such as over the studs. It can be used in place of house wrap when installed on the outside of structural sheathing, helping to reduce building costs. Because it helps insulate the home, it will also result in lower energy bills over time, which can essentially mean that the material pays for itself.

It has little to no structural integrity of its own, so it must be combined with other sheathing or bracing. This will mean that using it can dramatically increase the cost of the project up front, even if you expect to recoup costs over time. This makes installing sq. Before you install, you will need to determine whether or not the foam board is foil faced or not, and what type of siding you will install over it.

Some materials require the foil to face out, such as brick, and other materials require it face in, such as vinyl. Make sure you follow the instructions of the manufacturer for the foam board to determine which direction to face the foam board. The foam board should be installed directly over the sheathing, or if you are using bracing instead, it can be installed directly to the studs. In rare instances, it can also be used to cover up existing siding, in which case it should install similarly to other types of sheathing.

It should be butt edged, with each row above being offset by one stud length. After the sheathing has been installed, cover the seams with the recommended tape for that specific foam to help seal the boards properly and prevent any moisture infiltration between the boards. Gypsum sheathing is a type of sheetrock meant to be used in exterior applications.