If you have a rafter style roof system, it will definitely be using overhang. The overhang is the distance between the outside of your exterior wall right to the bottom edge of the rafter. It also has a fascia board that is nailed to the end of the rafter, flush with the rafter’s top side tying them together while providing a continuous surface on which to nail the 1-by-8 inch starter board. Normally, starter boards are set to run perpendicular to the rafters for three rows to sheath the overhang completely and when you have sheathed them, the remaining sections of the roof will be covered by 4-by-8 foot sheets of exterior plywood.
To sheath an overhang, you need:
- 1-by-8 inch starter boards
- Nail gun
- Framing nails
- Air compressor
- Saw horses
- Tape measure
- Chalk line
- 20-ounce hammer
- Framing square
Sheath an Overhang
How to Sheath an Overhang
- First thing that you need to do is to lay the starter board on the first row atop the rafter sections along their ends.
- You must make sure that the edge of the starter board is facing away from the roof runs over the top edge of the fascia board nailed perpendicular at the end of your rafter.
- Once you have run it over fascia board, you will be having starter board that has 3/4 inches of surface area that you need to nail.
- You must make sure that the edge of the starter board is facing away from the roof runs over the top edge of the fascia board nailed perpendicular at the end of your rafter.
- Take a pair of framing nails and nail them using a nail gun through the starter board and into each rafter.
- The position of the nail should be at least 1/2 inches from the edge of the starter board.
- The position of the nail should be at least 1/2 inches from the edge of the starter board.
Whenever you are nailing plywood, make it a practice to set the nails every 6 to 10 inches in a vertical row along the stud. Always seek for assistance from friends or families to help you when you are doing your installation work.
- Next step for you to do is to place the second row of your starter board against the first row that you have finished setting up earlier.
- Then, you need to nail them into each rafter.
- During this point of time, you are moving away from the end of your rafter toward the roof’s main section.
- Next, you need to set the final row of your starter board down and proceed with nailing them down to each of the rafter section.
- As soon as the final row is secured, you can start laying the 4-by-8 sheets of plywood in order to act as a cover to the non-overhang sections of the roof.
- Then, you need to nail them into each rafter.
When you use plywood sheathing on a wood frame house, you will be adding more stability to your walls. The plywood also works as a vapor barrier to your home especially when they are covered with a moisture-proof plastic material.
Always remember that if you want to sheath an overhang,
- Always ensure that all corners are covered with plywood.
- You should not leave and exposed plywood to any kind of elements. It should be covered with plastic after you have installed it.
