Roof Sheating
A roof is not only made up of shingles or tiles. It is a complex system of elements that all work together to protect your home. One critical part of the roofing system is your roof sheathing. So what exactly is roof sheathing? Why is it important to the roofing system as a whole? What are some of the different types?
WHAT IS ROOF SHEATHING?
Roof sheathing is the material that goes on top of your roofing structure that the system is constructed on. The trusses and beams of the roof give the roof its initial pitch and structure. The sheathing, or decking, is applied on top of this so that the actual underlayment and the covering can be installed. When you see workers transporting large flat pieces of lumber up to the roofing structure, they are more than likely installing the roof sheathing.
WHAT IS IT MADE OF?
Roof sheathing is almost always composed of wood in the United States, but different types of wood can be used. Oriented strand board (OSB) is one of the most popular materials to use. OSB is lightweight, cheap, and strong enough to resist bending or breaking. It may also be constructed of plywood. Plywood is more expensive than OSB but usually stronger. Plywood may be used instead of OSB in cases where the roof covering is especially heavy—like in the case of slate, clay, or concrete tiles.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT SHEATHING I NEED?
Sheathing comes in different thicknesses, and what type of roof you have will help designate the thickness you need. Steeper roofs tend to have thinner sheathing due to lightweight coverings, while flat and low-sloped roofs that support more weight from precipitation or people walking on it will have thicker sheathing.
What type of sheathing you need depends on your materials, home city, and jurisdiction code. We can help make sure you get the right type of sheathing for your home.
To learn more about the right roof for your home, call Highland Residential & Commercial Roofing at 1 (888) 55-ROOFER. We serve all of North Carolina.