Roof Sheathing Clip Spacing

Roof sheathing panel spacing hints.

Roof sheathing clip spacing.

Spacer type panel edge clips may also be used for roof sheathing applications. Not always required but a good idea. Sheathing should be a minimum of 19 32 inch thick. Edge clip requirements depend on the relationship of the panel span rating to the actual distance between roof framing.

The typical thickness range for sheathing is 3 8 to 3 4 inch. Use a 10d box nail to gauge 1 8 inch spacing between panels. Spacer type panel edge clips may also be used for roof sheathing applications. Spacer type panel edge clips are available from some manufacturers.

Use a 10d box 0 128 inch by 3 inch nail as a spacer to gauge 1 8 inch edge and end spacing between panels. The clips are inserted over the edges of the adjacent plywood panels to reduce deflection of the panel edges between the framing members and are most commonly used for roof sheathing. 8d ring shank nails should be used instead. Check building code requirements for installation of panel edge clips.

A strong resilient roof is a home s first line of defense when the roof deck is exposed to weather. For rafters spaced 20 or more inches apart 1 2 or 5 8 inch plywood is recommended. H clips provide additional stiffness between bearing points for the unsupported edges of wood panel plywood or osb roof sheathing along with the necessary 1 8 gap for expansion as shown below illustrated on a bag of simpson h clips. A 1 8 inch space between adjacent panel end and edge joints is recommended unless panel manufacturer indicates otherwise.

Some older h clips do not provide a built in gap. For improved performance consider thicker roof sheathing panels panel edge clips or panels with tongue and groove edges. Simpson strong tie panel sheathing clips are used to brace unsupported sheathing edges and provide a 1 8 gap to address shrinkage and expansion of roof sheathing. The most common rafter spacing is 24 inches and 5 8 inch plywood is recommended for that.

Plywood clips also referred to as h clips or panel edge clips are small metal brackets placed between the unsupported edges of plywood sheathing to effectively reduce the support spacing and stiffen the plywood.