March 12th, 2010

Installing Exterior Sidewall Sheathing & House Wrap

  1. Install a minimum of 7/16” x4’x8’ wafer board or plywood panel sheathing on the complete perimeter of your framed walls.  Start your vertical sheathing from a corner, centering the sheet on the first stud under 48”; remove excess.
  2. Continue to install sheathing in this method until you reach the next corner; continue this process around the complete perimeter.  All edges of the plywood or wafer board must end on a stud; nail each panel on 6” centers.  Note:  window and door openings can be cut out with a reciprocating saw.
  3. Check to make sure your sheathing is level vertically.  The sheathing should extend below your treated sill plate and be level and straight around the complete perimeter.
  4. Continue nailing panels until all exterior walls are covered; extend your sheathing past the level line for your soffit material; nail each panel on 6” centers.
  5. All sheathing seams must be taped and sealed.
  6. Install housewrap by nailing the wrap on opposite side of corner; secure housewrap to each stud on 12” centers with cap nails or staples; make sure you have a good solid lap on each seam; remove excess wrap at windows/doors with Stanley knife and straight edge.

    Note:  The tighter your seams around windows and doors the better your house will weather; caulking can be used as added protection.

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