FAQs

Yes. You can cut ZIP System roof and wall sheathing panels just like conventional OSB or plywood. The protective moisture barrier is built into the panels; it won’t crack or break off with cutting.

Yes.  Install the ZIP System wall sheathing like regular structural sheathing.  The panels can be installed horizontally or vertically, and the green Stormex water-resistive barrier should face the outside of the house.  For ease of installation, a fastening guide for internal fastening is pre-printed on the panels for horizontal and vertical installation.  Note: Tighter o.c. fastening may be required by design documents, or local code jurisdictions.  Refer to local code, design documents or local jurisdictions for perimeter fastening requirements.

If the authority having jurisdiction (building official, building code, architect or engineer) allows the use of staples to install typical wood structural sheathing on the roof or wall, then yes, staples are acceptable to be used to install ZIP System roof and wall sheathing.

Fastener heads are not required to be taped over. 

No.  Only ZIP System Tape should be used with ZIP System roof and wall sheathing.  ZIP System Tape is specially formulated to work with the ZIP System sheathing.  ZIP System tape is the only tape that is code-recognized for use with ZIP System Roof and Wall Sheathing.

Although all projects are unique, experience has shown that 1-roll of tape is needed for approximately 7-sheets of ZIP system sheathing. This should only be considered a general “rule of thumb” when ordering materials with the understanding that some jobs may require more or less depending on specific project.

The ZIP System tape gun or ZIP System tape roller are specially designed for ease of tape application and can be purchased at your ZIP System wall retail locations. The gun and roller not only makes tape application fast and easy, it also provide a high quality tape seal.

The surface of the ZIP System sheathing shoud be dry to the touch with not standing water or frost prior to tape installation. 

ZIP System tape should not be installed when the temperature of the tape is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6.7 degrees Celsius.

Yes.  When using ZIP System roof and wall sheathing all seams between the panels must be taped with the ZIP System tape to ensure that it functions as a structural system and underlayment all in one.

We recommend you using 6” wide ZIP System tape for valley seams and for window and door flashing. If you do not have 6” wide ZIP System tape, we recommend that you overlap two pieces of the 3 ¾” seam tape by at least 1" in the valleys. Water tends to migrate towards the valleys and it is important to pay close attention to tape installation in these areas. The ZIP System tape gun kit comes with a valley/corner tool that will allow you to apply pressure to the tape in valley areas of taping.

ZIP System roof sheathing is intended to replace the first layer in a two-layer or multi-layer underlayment system. Follow manufacturer's suggested instructions when installing tile roofs. ZIP System roof sheathing is approved for hot mopping applications. A second layer of underlayment can be hot mopped to the ZIP System roof sheathing.

Metal roof coverings may be applied to ZIP System roof sheathing provided roof covering manufacturer's installation instructions are followed. Fasteners used to secure the ZIP System roof panels to supporting framing must be compatible with the specific metal roof covering used. Galvanized fasteners shall be used with galvanized roof coverings, aluminum-zinc coated fasteners shall be used with aluminum-zinc coated roof coverings, and three hundred series stainless steel fasteners shall be used with copper roofs. Stainless steel fasteners are acceptable with all metal roof types. In addition, metal roof flashing shall also be made of a material compatible with the specific metal roof covering used.

The gable is considered a wall application.  ZIP System roof sheathing is not code-recognized to be used as an alternate to the  water-resistive barrier prescribed in the code for wall applications.  ZIP System Wall sheathing should be used on gable end walls, not ZIP System Roof sheathing.

ZIP System roof sheathing was developed for use in the roof application as a structural panel with a built-in moisture barrier. It is code recognized for roof applications only – ESR #1473.  To ensure proper usage, we have made the panels different colors and stamped "ROOF USE ONLY" on every panel and packaging.  The panel is covered by a 30-year system limited warranty* only if used in the correct application.

Although ZIP System roof is a wood structural panel capable of meeting all loading requirements for an OSB of similar thickness and span rating, a code-recognized water-resistive barrier should be installed on top of the panels if used in a wall application.  A ZIP System roof panel should be viewed a commodity PS-2 rated sheathing panel only when used on a wall. 

*Limitations and restrictions apply. See warranty for complete details.

No. ZIP System wall sheathing should only be used in wall applications. The ZIP System wall panel is specially formulated for use in wall applications.  ZIP System roof panels are specially formulated for use in roof applications.

ZIP System wall sheathing was developed for use in the wall application as a structural panel with a built-in water-resistive barrier.  It is code recognized for wall applications only – ESR #1474.  To ensure proper usage, we have made the panels different colors and stamped "WALL USE ONLY" on every panel and packaging. The panel is covered by a 30-year system warranty* only if used in the correct application.

Although ZIP System wall is a wood structural panel capable of meeting all loading requirements for an OSB of similar thickness and span rating, a code-recognized roofing underlayment should be installed on top of the panels if used in a roof application. A ZIP System wall panel should be viewed a commodity PS-2 rated sheathing panel only when used on a roof.

*Limitations and restrictions apply. See warranty for complete details.

Yes. ZIP System Roof and Wall Sheathing are recognized in ESR-1473 and ESR-1474 as alternates to the prescribed roofing felt and building paper prescribed in the International Building and Residential Codes.    

Yes. The ZIP System roof and wall sheathing is recognized by FL DCA (Florida Product Approval Numbers 5930-R1 and 6565-R2)

As with all structural panels, fasteners should not penetrate the surface more than 1/8". If a fastener creates a hole all the way through the panel, we recommend that you tape over the hole.  Please click on the link below for more information about over-driven fasteners in ZIP System Sheathing.

www.zipsystem.com/uploads/resources/files/Tech%20Tip%20%20-%20ZIP%20System%20Overdriven%20Fasteners-10062009063739.pdf

ZIP System® roof is a combination wood structural panel and roofing underlayment. It is code recognized by International Building and Residential Codes in ESR-1473 as an alternate to roofing underlayment (felt paper) required by code when panel seams are taped with the ZIP System tape.  ZIP System roof sheathing only replaces the first layer of underlayment in systems requiring more than one layer.

ZIP System® wall sheathing is a combination wood structural panel and water-resistive barrier. It is code recognized by International Building and Residential Codes in ESR-1474 as an alternate to building paper required by code when panel seams are taped with the ZIP System tape. ZIP System wall sheathing only replaces the first layer of building paper in systems requiring more than one layer.
 

No.  Precipetek and Stormex moisture barriers are resinated overlays that integrated during the panel manufacturing process.  They are not secondary laminates or coatings.

No.  ZIP System tape is only warranted when used with ZIP System Roof and Wall sheathing.

Wrinkled tape may contribute to leaks in the system. If a taped seam contains a wrinkle, first, try to lift and replace the wrinkled area of tape. Next, re-apply pressure to the tape using the ZIP System tape gun roller to ensure the tape is sealed. If the tape is already adhered and difficult to remove, simply use the roller on the tape gun and apply as much pressure as needed to make certain the tape is secured to the panel, particularly around the tape edges. This should flatten any air pocket and activate the tape adhesive to bond completely with the ZIP System panels.

ZIP System sheathing can be exposed for up to 180 days.

Yes. It is covered by a 30-year system limited warranty.  Please see warranty (link) for complete details.

Call 800-933-9220 and a Huber Engineered Woods representative will assist you.

No.  ZIP System roof sheathing should only be used in roof applications. The ZIP System roof sheathing is not code recognized as an alternate to the code-precribed building paper requred wall applications. 

No, ZIP System sheating specifically designed as a combination wood structural panel and moisture barrier.  The OSB substrate is not the same formulation as AdvanTech sheathing. 

ZIP System roof panels are designed with an enhanced skid resistant surface. Our test results show that ZIP System roof panels provide comparable skid resistance to traditional plywood and OSB sheathing panels in both wet and dry conditions.
 

A water-resistive barrier is a secondary line of defense against water penetrating into the wall system – the primary defense being the exterior wall cladding.  While some think it only serves to protect the walls during the construction process, this barrier must perform even after the siding/exterior cladding is installed. 

No.  Vapor barriers prevent water vapor transmission, while water-resistive barriers are designed to prevent liquid water intrusion but still allow water vapor to pass through.  While it is good construction practice to use water-resistive barriers for residential structures, the use and location of vapor barriers depend on different variables like climate, geography, building design and local code requirements.

Permeance is a property that defines the ease at which water molecules diffuse through a material, typically measured in "perms." While water resistive barriers are designed to keep liquid water out of the wall system, they are also generally designed to allow moisture vapor to pass through so that the wall system can “breathe” meaning moisture vapor will not accumulate in the wall system.

Yes.  The Stormex water-resistive barrier comlies as a Grade D  water-resistve barrier in accordance with ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Water-Resistive Barriers (AC38). 

Yes. ZIP System tape is code recognized in ESR-2227 as a pressure-sensitive, self-adhering, cold-applied tape to be used as flashing around windows, door frames, wall penetrations and roof penetrations.  Window & Door Flashing Tape when used with ZIP System wall sheathing (ESR-2227).  ZIP System tape is not warranted when used on substrates other than ZIP System roof and wall sheathing.