What kind of plywood do you put on a roof?

CDX is the grade of plywood most commonly used for roofing (CDX plywood means it is Construction Grade for exterior purposes). The wood is graded on each side from A to D, depending on the level of imperfections, (A being free of all imperfections and knots and D being un-sanded and considerably defected).

Can you use regular plywood for roof sheathing?

Builders love plywood for its water resistance, structural stability and low cost. They also love oriented strand board, though. It costs even less and is comparable to plywood on the other two counts, and they increasingly prefer OSB for roof sheathing. Either is an acceptable choice in most jurisdictions.

What plywood is best for sheathing?

3. Structural Fiberboard. Plywood and OSB are largely considered the best wall sheathing choices because of their overall abilities to hold fasteners well, create a strong bond between studs, and provide some thermal advantages.

What is typically used for roof sheathing?

In older homes, the roof sheathing is usually wood boards. Over the years, plywood replaced boards, and oriented strand board, or OSB, has gradually replaced plywood. Typically, older homes were originally roofed with wood shakes or shingles.

Should I use OSB or plywood for roof?

OSB takes longer than plywood to get saturated, but also takes much longer to dry out. When used as roof sheathing, this tendency to hold moisture means it will degrade faster than plywood when exposed to chronic leaks.

How thick should the plywood be for a roof?

5/8-inch
Most Common Thickness The most common rafter spacing is 24 inches, and 5/8-inch plywood is recommended for that. It will support roof loads for most situations and is the standard for most roof applications. Roofs with very heavy loads may require 3/4-inch thickness.

What is the best roof sheathing?

OSB is now the most-used sheathing and subflooring material for new roofs and roof replacements.

Can plywood be waterproofed?

Many types of waterproofing are available to protect plywood. The most common type sold in home improvement stores is the paint-on or spray-on type of waterproofing. These typically are liquid latex substances applied to the surface of the plywood while wet. Once they dry, they form a plastic, protective layer.

What is the minimum thickness of roof sheathing?

19/32-inch
Roof sheathing comes in grid-marked 4-by-8-foot sheets and needs to be installed perpendicular to the frame. Sheathing must be a minimum of 19/32-inch thick. Never affix roof sheathing with staples; 8d ring-shank nails need to be used instead. The normal thickness range for sheathing is 3/8 to 3/4 inch.

What is the best thickness for roof sheathing?

The recommended thickness for roof sheathing is ⅝” thick. Sheathing with a thickness of less than that is much more likely to result in bowing between framing which could potentially compromise your exterior roof material.

What kind of plywood can you use for roofing?

OSB can be used in many applications and is commonly used in roofing, walls, and flooring. Because it is produced in very large mats and then cut down to size, OSB is generally very consistent in its quality. You can buy OSB in a number of different sizes, thicknesses, panel strengths, and rigidity.

What kind of material is used for wall sheathing?

Plywood is widely manufactured as a softwood and hardwood, and come available in various grades of finish, depending on its intended use. Here’s just a few examples of how plywood is used and why it is such an excellent choice of material for such uses: 1. Exterior Wall Sheathing

Which is better for a roof plywood or OSB?

Both CDX plywood and OSB tend to come in standard sheets of four-foot by eight-foot (4×8). However, you might find that OSB can better suit your needs than plywood for the roof. Because of its construction, some manufacturers actually make larger sheets of OSB.

What kind of siding can be made out of ply?

It’s not uncommon to find eaves and soffits covered with a plywood skin or made completely from ply. Some plywoods are made specifically for use as a siding product to appear similar to reverse board and batten siding. Builder contractors also commonly use plywood for constructing detached garages and sheds, for temporary floors and concrete forms.

What is the best plywood for roof?

For rafters spaced 20 or more inches apart, 1/2- or 5/8-inch plywood is recommended. The most common rafter spacing is 24 inches, and 5/8-inch plywood is recommended for that. It will support roof loads for most situations and is the standard for most roof applications.

What kind of plywood do you use for roofing?

For most lightweight roofing materials, use 5/16-inch plywood for spans up to 20 inches, and use 1/2-inch sheets for spans up to 32 inches.

What is better for a roof, plywood or OSB?

Plywood will absorb moisture quicker than OSB, but consequently it will also dry quicker. Both products will swell when wet, but plywood will return to almost its exact shape when it dries. OSB is less forgiving of being left out in the rain and will show more deformities after a wetting and drying cycle. Oct 9 2019

What should roof sheathing should be installed to?

Sheathing is installed perpendicular to roof trusses . Roof sheathing comes in grid-marked 4-by-8-foot sheets, and should be installed perpendicular to the frame. Sheathing should be a minimum of 19/32-inch thick. Never attach roof sheathing with staples; 8d ring-shank nails should be used instead.