Step By Step Process Of Installing Roof Sheathing
Roof sheathing is not just flat panels but shingles are also attached to it. The sheathing of the roof will help you to keep the roof trusses or rafters properly spaced, which as a result makes it strong enough that takes hold of the entire roof together. Consequently, roof sheathing has to be fundamentally sound and accurately spaced to allow for expansion as well as contraction because of seasonal weather fluctuations. Sheathing can be installed or attached to roof trusses with the help of a hammer and nails, however, a framing nailer can also be used which can make the job go much faster. In order to install roof sheathing, go through the below-mentioned step by step process carefully & achieve the desired result of your work:
- Measurement: First of all, take a measurement from the peak of the roof through each rafter on one side of the roof in order to ascertain or establish the exact length of each rafter & find out the length of the shortest rafter. Then, compute or evaluate this distance from the peak to the tip of the rafter tail on the first as well as the last rafter of the run and make a pencil mark. Snap a chalk line betwixt the two pencil marks in order to make a cut line.
- Cut Rafter Tail: Cut each rafter tail on the chalk line with the help of a circular saw in order to make sure that every rafter is of the same length. Place or lay down the first piece of plywood or oriented-strand-board sheathing on the extremity or base edge of the rafter tails at one end of the roof. Line up the long edge of the sheathing with the ends of the rafter tails, as well as the end of the sheathing opposite the edge of the roof centralized on a rafter. Fasten the sheathing into place with the help of a nail every 6 inches through each rafter using a framing nailer.
- Fasten The Sheathing Into Place: Lay down another piece of sheathing alongside the first, arranged in a straight line with the end of the rafter tails and letting a 1/8-inch gap betwixt the first and second sheet for seasonal expansion. Fasten this sheathing into place with the help of a framing nailer. Repeat with extra sheathing as long as you reach the end of the first row.
- Place A Piece Of Sheathing Above The First Piece: Lay down a piece of sheathing over the first piece that was fixed & secured to start the second row. Move the sheet smoothly one rafter width over the end of the roof, so the edge is centralized on the next rafter, offset one rafter spacing from the first piece of secured sheathing from the row below. Lift the sheathing 1/8 inch above the previous row and fasten it into place using nails. Finish the second row offset one rafter width from the first, before moving onto the third row, and so on, as long as the last row extends past the peak of the roof.
- Snap A Chalk Line: Snap a chalk line through the overhanging sheets across each side of the roof lined up with the edge of the last rafter, and remove the excess sheathing with the help of a circular saw. Then, line up a chalk line with the sheathing on the peak of the roof and remove the tops of those sheets as well. Repeat the same process with the opposite side of the gable roof.