One of the last steps when building your tiny house is finding the best exterior sheathing or Sidings for said tiny house. It’s an interesting aspect of tiny house building. However, I know you would like to know more about which exterior sheathing is best for your tiny house. Keep reading to find out.
Best Exterior Sheathing For Tiny House: Tiny House Sheathing
The sheathing is done on the tiny house walls, roof, around windows and doors, and loft, if applicable. When the wall, roof, and loft framing are completed, the sheathing process begins. However, after the process has been concluded, it’s important to go back to clean your windows, doors and walls to return your Tiny home back to its sparkling form.
The purpose of adding exterior sheathing for a tiny house is to add a layer of support to your tiny house framing. Sheathing provides a base for roof finishing and wall siding, roof structures, and strength to your tiny house walls, and also gives your tiny house protection from outdoor elements like air, rain, snow, and wind. Making your tiny house durable and strong.
Tiny house sheathing keeps your framing secured. It ties together all framing members into a rigid structure, resulting in incredible racking. With so many benefits of sheathing, your tiny house sheathing has to be done properly for it to be more efficient and structurally sound. So pay attention to this part of tiny house building as it is very helpful, especially the energy efficiency of your home. Your utility bills reduce as well as your carbon footprint decreases.
Using appropriate sheathing materials with good insulating properties can contribute to keeping the tiny home warmer by preventing heat loss and reducing drafts.
However, it’s important to note that the overall warmth of the house also depends on other factors, such as the quality of insulation, the type of windows and doors, and as Gasworks puts it, the efficiency of the heating system. Properly insulating the entire tiny home is crucial for achieving optimal warmth and energy efficiency.
However, people contemplate sheathing their tiny house because they feel it adds extra cost and also takes time for it to be installed but these downsides can’t be compared to the benefits sheathing provides in a long run.
The Thickness Of Tiny House Sheathing?
The thickness of your tiny house sheathing depends on some factors.
Location and Weather Condition:
You have to consider where your tiny house is located. If your tiny house is located in a place with more severe weather conditions than other areas, then your tiny house sheathing has to be thicker. On average, tiny house sheathing should be about 13 cm or 5 inches but if you reside in a place with a colder climate, you should increase the thickness by about 3 inches.
Weight of Tiny House:
The weight of the tiny house is another factor to consider. If you intend to put your tiny house on wheels and you are worried about the weight and how difficult it might be to move it. You should go for a lightweight material for sheathing.
Why Should I Sheath My Tiny House?
There are lots of reasons why you need to consider sheathing your tiny house.
1. It creates another layer of weather protection for your tiny house.
2. It helps your tiny building to be structurally sound.
3. It gives your house protection from exterior elements like wind, snow, rain, etc.
4. It acts as a base for roof finishing and wall siding.
5. Your tiny home will be strong and long-lasting.
Best Exterior Sheathing For Tiny House: Types Of Sheathing
Some sheathing materials can be used in tiny homes. The most popular option used by most tiny home builders is the wood sheathing option. Examples of wood sheathing materials include plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and ZIP system.
#1. Oriented Strand Board
OSB is much denser than plywood and it also has fewer spots. Most tiny house builders prefer using it and It is less expensive. This type of sheathing is made up of wood flakes laid in a cross pattern, they have been heated and pressed together with wax adhesive and resin to form a 4×8 board.
Commodity OSB
Commodity OSB is the most affordable type of sheeting and a basic form of sheathing for your tiny house. It is very useful for your building as it has strength against exterior elements like rain, wind, etc.
Advantech
This is a higher form of OSB board, it has an integrated resin within the manufacturing of the wood. This makes it to be more resistant to moisture. This OSB board clears off concerns of swelling that most times are very problematic for many contractors during the construction of tiny buildings.
#2. Hubers ZIP System
This sheathing material is a unique option because of its innovative combination of building components, giving your tiny home a good exterior sheathing.
ZIP Panels
The ZIP panels are made up of an OSB board with a moisture-resistant material applied to each board. However, making tiny house construction more efficient and effective.
ZIP R Panels
This panel creates an energy-efficient barrier against all exterior elements. Thus, increasing the construction of LEED-certified and energy-conscious buildings. The ZIP-R panels use the standard ZIP panels and add poly iso installation to the backside of them. This sheathing material eliminates two steps in the building process unlike the standard ZIP panels above that eliminate one step.
#3. Plywood
Plywood is another popular option of sheathing used by tiny home builders. Most of them choose it because it is lightweight and also durable. It is also very efficient and effective as it tends to control moisture levels better than other tiny house sheathing options. The plywood is made by cross-lamination of whole sheets of wood making it strong and stiff.
CDX plywood is a type of plywood used by builders to construct exterior walls and roofs. It is strong and a to damage. The letters “CDX” refer to the grade of plywood. The CDX plywood means the face side is grade C, the back side is grade D, and the X refers to the exposure.
“X” in the CDX acronym is talking about the type of glue used to bond the plywood veneers. The letter “X” refers to the exposure, which indicates that the plywood is strong to resist moisture.
CDX plywood consists of actual cuts from a tree that have been sliced. These layers in each board are pressed together and rely less on glue than OSB.
Gypsum-based sheathing, also called drywall or plasterboard, is a known alternative to wood sheathing. This sheathing tends to offer more durability than plywood and can be more frugal.
Best Exterior Sheathing For Tiny House: Conclusion
In conclusion, you can make use of any of the above sheathing material that is quality, suitable for your home, and also affordable. Sheathing gives extra strength to your home, making it structurally sound and long-lasting. Although sheathing may seem simple, you have to install it correctly.
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