Roof sheathing is very useful when it comes to protecting the roof rafters of a house and provides a structural surface for placing or fixing the shingles or other roofing materials. Plywood as well as oriented strand board (OSB) are two well-known types of sheathing. If you are looking to remove roof sheathing, it doesn't need special skill, however, it is labor-intensive and needs special care in order to make sure safe working conditions on the roof and prevent falls. Cutting through the sheathing with the help of a circular saw or reciprocating saw can make it easier to get rid of, however, if you are looking to reuse the sheathing, you will have to pry it off with utmost care and get rid of all nails.
Step By Step Process To Remove & Replace Old Roof Sheathing
Roof sheathing is usually made from plywood and is secured to the top edge of roof trusses as well as rafters. They bind the roof together, however, they also help to hold up the roof materials. Over time, roof sheathing can be damaged, which in turn needs to replaced. There can be many reasons of the damage including excess water as well as bad storms. In order to remove the old sheathing & replacing it with new one, collect the required items first before going through the below-mentioned step by step process carefully:
Thing's You Will Need
- Pry Bar With Flat End & Safety Goggles
- Reciprocating Saw, Sawhorse & Chalk line
- Galvanized Roofing Nails & Shingles
- Work Gloves, 4-Foot Pry Bar & Circular Saw
- Measuring Tape & 3/4 Inch Exterior Plywood
- Scaffolding Or Extension Ladders
- Building Paper
Step 1: Marking The Work Area
First of all, you need to ascertain or establish the section of roof sheathing that you are looking to remove, and build your boards to that area. For one story home, you can use extension ladders instead. When you are on the roof, you need assistance from someone & move to the end of the area in order to remove. Your assistant will have one end of the chalk line and walk to the other edge of the area to remove. Snap the chalk line in order to mark off one section of the perimeter of the roof sheathing to remove. Repeat this process 3 more times for each area in order to create a rectangular section to remove.
Step 2: Accessing The Roof Sheathing
In order to remove covering from the roof sheathing, it is important to remove the shingles. You can get rid of the shingle with the help of the flat pry bar by running the flat end underneath the shingles and leveraging them up. Take away all of the shingles through with the wrap underneath as long as you uncover the plywood. You also need to get rid of any roofing nails that may still be in the wood.
Step 3: Remove The Roof Sheathing
Now, it is time to remove the roof sheathing & for that you need to cut the roof sheathing first. Wear your safety goggles and work gloves as you are going to use the reciprocating saw. Use the saw in order to cut through the perimeter from which you got rid of the shingles and wrap. Eliminate the wood from the roof, with the help of the longer pry bar to assist you. After that, the rafters of the home will be uncovered.
Step 4: Replace The Old With The New Roof Sheathing
After removing the old roof sheathing, now, replace it with the new one but make sure the replaced piece needs to be sized to fit the open area. With the help of the tape measure, take the measurement of the area for the new roof sheathing. Move these measurements to the ¾-inch exterior plywood. Position the plywood on the sawhorses, before cutting it to the measurements. Put the new roof sheathing in position, & make sure it fits snugly and rests on the rafters. Fasten it in place using nails by putting one nail every 6 inches, ensuring the head of the nail is flush with the wood. Apply new roofing wrap, trimming it before nailing it down. Install new shingles that complement the old ones. Place the new shingles underneath the old ones in order to overlap them, and then nail in place. Continue this as long as new shingles are installed.