Plank Sheathing Roof

Your roofer will attach your shingles to these squares or planks of wood.

Plank sheathing roof.

Roof sheathing is usually made of either oriented strand board osb or plywood. On older homes planks were often spaced for wood or slate roofs with wider exposures than the standard 5 inch tab on asphalt shingles. The plank problem typically sheathing problems are isolated to small areas but old plank sheathing presents more of a challenge. What is roof sheathing.

The issue guertin explains is the gaps between boards. Roof sheathing also known as roof decking is a strong layer of wood boards that are fixed to your roof s joists and trusses. Can a roofer determine the state of my decking before starting the roof replacement. What s roof sheathing made of.

Exterior grade plywood was not available until the 1940 s. Roof decking or sheathing is the lumber that is attached to the roof trusses of your home. Until the 1940s exterior grade plywood was not available. Roof decks on homes built before 1970 are often 1 8 fir pre plywood shiplap.

There are basically 3 types of common roof decking. Just as with plywood or osb board sheathing provides some lateral stability for the framing and small plank fractions are not as sturdy as longer elements that span multiple supports. This is the material that your roofing shingles are nailed to. Without a good solid roof deck in which to nail the shingles problems are sure to arise when the first big windstorm occurs.

If your home was built prior to 1970 there is a good chance it will have board sheathing. Plank sheathing usually 1 6 or 1 8 was used as a roof deck before plywood. Without these many of the nails used to install the shingles will fall between the sheathing and the first wind storm will blow your shingles off. If you have spaced or plank sheathing osb or plywood will need to be added to completely cover the roof.

Figure 7 this newer roof had been installed with little thought given to proper deck repairs.