Zip wall system
jbugster
| Posted in Green Products and Materials on
I am remodeling my 35yr old home by removing old cedar siding. I am going to install vinyl siding. Home had celotex sheathing everywhere except corners. So, decided to remove all existing sheathing and replace with zip sheathing. By removing soffit the 8 foot panels rest on subfloor and installing vertically reach top plate nicely. I am using zip tape for seams and windows/doors. Question would it hurt to go ahead and tape all vertical nailed areas and seams. I also like to know recommendations on cover rim joist and sill. I have included photo that may help.
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Replies
Does your rim joist stick out further then the wall or something? I wouldn't think it would, so why wouldn't you just put zip over it?
The wall does stick out further. The wall zip that I am installing is now flush with rim joist.
Shaun,
Your best bet is probably to use a sheet WRB (like Tyvek) over your Zip and rim-joist. That also answers the question about nail holes although I wouldn't worry about them either way as long as they aren't wildly overdriven.
Hi Malcolm.
Are you concerned at all that the sheathing doesn't tie the walls to the rim and sill?
Brian,
I guess it depends where it is. That's a pretty common way to build many places - and the Zip is an upgrade on fibre-board that was there before. Somewhere with either high winds or seismic concerns would benefit from mechanical connections from foundation to trusses. Now the sheathing is on, some Simpson straps would solve the rim to wall connection. Hurricane clips may or may not work on the outside too.
Thanks Malcolm.
The strapping is probably a good idea, if he does nothing else. If he goes this route and uses a WRB for water management, he should first do some air sealing with tape or caulk around the rim and sill.
Hi jbugster.
First, you should use ZIP Tape or Liquid Flash on all of the seams where panels meet. You do not need to cover nails in the field. If you go with the tape, remember that it is pressure sensitive, so it needs to be rolled. This detail will complete the water-resistive barrier and help with air sealing.
Your second question is more concerning.
Typically, the sheathing would come down to cover and be fastened to the rim joist and sill. I'm not sure how important this is for structural concerns, bracing, uplift, shear etc. in every area and may be different from one area to the next based on wind and seismic concerns. I'd consider consulting an engineer about that before you install siding. If the sheathing and rim are in plane, the fix would be to add another layer of sheathing that ties everything together.