- Q.When fastening ZIP System
sheathing to wall and roof framing with our pneumatic
nailers, we’ve found that it’s
difficult to keep nail heads from penetrating the
applied protective barrier on the face of the panels.
Won’t these holes compromise the moisture
barrier’s integrity and lead to problems later
on? Should they be covered with tape? And what happens
if the ZIP tape fails?
A.Chris
Rogers,technology manager at Huber
Engineered Woods, the manufacturer of ZIP System
wall and roof sheathing, responds: With a
sheet-type water-resistive barrier (like
housewrap), any small hole can become an entry
point for water, which can then spread to the area
between the sheathing and the housewrap. This water
has a direct path to the wall cavity through the
gaps between the sheathing panels.
The ZIP System panel has a phenol-impregnated
kraft-paper overlay laminated to it; for water to
get behind this moisture barrier, it would have to
migrate around the nail head and flow down the
shaft of the nail all the way through the
panel.
Our testing has shown that minor penetrations in
the moisture barrier caused by overdriven fasteners
won’t compromise the system’s
ability to resist moisture, nor will they void the
manufacturer’s warranty. And unless the
fastener creates a hole all the way through the
panel, it isn’t necessary to apply tape to
overdriven fasteners.
Keep in mind, though, that overdriven fasteners
can reduce the panel’s shear strength, a
problem with any wood diaphragm or shear wall
constructed with structural OSB or plywood.