Over time, many houses tend to have a saggy and leaking roof. To avoid spending a lot on roof repair and make your house last longer, choosing the same thickness for different types of materials is not advisable.
Roof sheathing is one of the most significant investments that homeowners should consider especially for cold environments and places with frequent weather changes.
This article will guide you on choosing the right sheathing thickness for your roof based on your material, application, and environment.
What is Roof Sheathing and Why is It Important?
Roof sheathing is composed of hardwood or metal covering that provides a flat, uniform, and stable platform for nailing or screwing the roofing material. It also acts as an additional layer between your house and the external roof materials, preventing water from going inside your house.
Sheathing reinforces your roof by equally distributing any weight or load applied. Roof sheathing serves the purpose of strengthening your ceiling and preventing it from collapsing upon itself. It is often connected to your roof’s seams and trusses to keep your shingle from sagging or bending due to the changing environment. Roof sheathing provides additional fire protection by making it much harder for fire to spread to the rooftop.
Factors to Consider in Choosing the Roof Sheathing Thickness
There are several considerations you should think about before buying or cutting your sheathing materials.
Sheathing Material
The appropriate roof sheathing thickness varies on the type and brand of the boards that you are using for your roof deck. The ideal sheathing breadth varies depending on whether you’re using OSB, plywood, or metal sheets.
Dimensions of Panels and Spacing of Trusses
When comparing If there are wider intervals between the framing, choose a thicker foundation.
Type of Roof Application
The thickness of your roof covering is determined by a variety of factors, including the type of roof, roof’s inclination, climate condition, and material design codes.
If your roof does not have suitable dimensions, climate changes may have an impact on its durability. In places where there is seasonal snow, the weight of the snow is another factor to consider before purchasing panel boards. All forms of roof covering have a marking that specifies the maximum spacing between structural frames.
The maximum permitted loads that the board can withstand are listed beneath the label of the sheathing material. This can assist you to determine the thickness of roof materials. In regions with snowy weather and frequent heavy rains, solid sheathing panels are suggested for all forms of roof installation.
It is better to choose 1×6 boards so they would not tend to expand and contract when subjected to different weather conditions. Roof boards must be placed with a secure corner joint, but with a minimum of 1/8 inch for the expansion space. On the trusses, the corner junctions should be balanced and aligned. When constructing mineral-surfaced sheet covering, rectangular shape planks are not suggested because single boards can bend, causing the material to fracture.
The thickness of the roof sheathing also depends on your project. If you’re building a shed, 5/8-inch panels are advised for lesser expenses while still achieving a rock-solid roof foundation that would is durable enough to last for years.
Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is a better alternative for your shed than plywood since it is simpler to construct. The tongue and groove strand board is also relatively easy to install on your shed.
Internal roof cover degradation, such as decaying and sagging roofs, mold growth, and water leaks, are indicators that new roof materials should be installed. When changing the roofing system to a heavier one, be sure that the rooftop structure is capable of supporting the additional weight.
The roof frame may collapse if the roof is carrying heavier loads than it should. Asphalt shingles can be stretched over the rafters by slumping roofs, causing the particles to break off.
Recommended Roof Sheathing Thickness
There is no single standard thickness for roof sheathing. The thickness of conventional roof sheathing ranges from 5/8″ to ½” thick. If you’re installing OSB for your rooftop, a thickness of 5/8″ is advised. While plywood should be ½” thick.
The recommended roof sheathing thickness is ⅝” thick.
Minimum Roof Sheathing Thickness
Minimum sheathing requirements dictate that ⅜” thick is the lowest you can go in terms of thickness.
What happens if your roof sheathing materials are too thin?
Wrong dimensions will lessen the integrity of the overall structure of your roof. Thin layers of roof covers are more prone to bend between the foundation, thus compromising the outer roof system. When additional weight is applied to a ⅜” board, the panel will sink over time.
Maximum Roof Sheathing Thickness
It is essential to pay close attention to the markings on the panel boards because various materials with the same thickness are rated for different spans.
The roof sheathing thickness is essential for weather resistance, as well as strengthening the overall roofing system. Thicker boards will provide a more sturdy rooftop and will prevent sagging between the trusses. Less bending implies a much more firm layer for roofing material, which extends the roof’s durability.
What Materials Works Best for Your Roof?
Wood Boards
Plywood weigh less than OSB, and liquid takes time to degrade the wood board’s overall strength. However, if this phenomenon occurs, your rooftop deck may sink over time, costing you hundreds of dollars in repairs.
For rooftop sheathing, the chipboard must be at least 1/2 inch thick. At the rafters, the plywood can span up to 32 inches and between ground joints, it can span up to 15 inches.
Consider consulting an engineer to ensure proper structural integrity when determining rafter spacing and dimensions for your new roof.
Oriented Strand Board
OSB is ideal for those on a budget who desire larger boards than the conventional plywood panels. OSB is more resistant to moisture and has a higher tensile strength than hardwood.
Half-inch OSB is acceptable for rafter band gaps of up to 24 inches. Panels must be attached to the rafters with appropriate fasteners and should have at least 1/8-inch expansion space among each layer. An OSB roof plank’s minimum depth is approximately 15/32 inches.
Metal
If you’re covering a roof with metal sheets, the recommended thickness is about ⅝-inch. Metal roofs utilize lesser nails than asphalt shingle roofs. Construction workers should make sure that the metal roof is screwed into the most sturdy foundation feasible.
Not investing in the structure of your roof deck will cost you a lot in the future. Remember to choose the right material with the appropriate thickness of the panel boards for a better and secured house structure.
