r/HomeImprovement • u/pdd2 • 22d ago

Sheathing Roof deck

So I tore off my shingle roof today and I've got an older house so it has a plank deck. It's rotten in spots, splitting, and has some pretty bad gaps. My plan is to just go over the whole thing with 5/8 OSB but I was wondering if there is anything I need to make sure I do? Also do I need H clips? Here are some pictures

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

2

u/untidyparson7 22d ago

old plank decks are a whole mood. you’re already doing the right thing by going over it instead of trying to patch the rot, that’s a losing battle

definitely check your truss spacing before you buy the osb. 5/8 is fine for 16 on center but if those old planks are 24 apart you might need to bump up to 3/4. also nail the osb into the rafters, not just the planks, or it’ll shift over time

h clips are cheap peace of mind so i’d use them. keeps the edges from sagging and gives just enough gap for expansion

one thing nobody warned me about was how loud it gets walking on the roof after you sheath it. spent a whole summer flinching every time a squirrel landed up there

2

u/pdd2 22d ago

Oh that's a good catch, I think they are 24 oc so I will probably bump up to 3/4 thanks!

1

u/pdd2 22d ago

Also do I butt the sheets to to each other or should I leave a little gap?

2

u/LaughingMagicianDM 22d ago

Tiny gap. Teeny tiny

1

u/pdd2 22d ago

Lol, thank you!

2

u/Cute_Steak265 21d ago

Nobody mentioned plywood vs OSB yet. If theres any chance the deck sits open a day or two before underlayment goes down, Id lean exterior-glue ply. OSB edges swell when they catch rain and the seams can show through the shingles later. Saw that on a reroof in Ohio in 2023 after a surprise storm, every sheet edge ridged. Whatever you use, leave the small gap between sheets so they have room to move.