Plywood is a commonly used building material, thanks to its beneficial properties. It is composed of at least three layers of wood sheets that are joined together to produce a flat and thick sheet. It is widely used in construction to make partitions, doors and furniture. Little do people know it also plays a huge role in the proper construction of one’s roof.
Plywood is the best material for roof sheathing.
Roof sheathing is needed in order for the roof to stay in its place. It also serves as a barrier of your home against the damaging effects of the weather. It disperses the force of strong winds that hit your home towards the foundation. Plywood is one of the most frequently used materials for roof sheathing along with oriented strand board, lumber and square edge. However, plywood remains to be the most popular choice for roof sheathing because of several reasons.
- Moisture resistance
Exposure of the roof to rain, ice and snow is inevitable. Plywood swells uniformly along the sheet. It returns to its usual size as it dries out. This process occurs quickly, and the extent of swelling does not affect the finishing of the roof as compared to other materials.
- Durability
The sheets of veneer used to form plywood are cross-laminated and joined together using a hot-press. The number of layers used for plywood is always odd in number so that it is balanced around the central axis. This design of the plywood makes it very stable and resistant to movement of wood such as shrinking, swelling, cupping, or warping. Such movement can lead to damage such as roof leakage.
- Insulation
Since the roof is exposed to the sun all the time, it is highly likely that the roof will heat up quickly. This will make the temperature of your entire home warmer. Plywood is known to have high insulation for heat. Using plywood as a material for roof sheathing will decrease the effects of the weather, thereby reducing the expenses incurred by using the heating and cooling system of your home.
- Ease of installation
Plywood is durable enough to serve its purpose yet light enough to be installed as roof sheathing by an individual. A roof with a lighter weight can help you save money and time in terms of designing and construction of the core foundation of your home.
Indeed, plywood is a great material to be used for roof sheathing. When properly installed using the right material, roof sheathing will ensure that your home will be adequately protected by your roof. Seek the help of a professional roofing company on how you can use plywood to strengthen your roof.
Written by True Son Exteriors, the best contractor for roofing in Columbia, MO.
