TIME TO GET “DRIED-IN”

After your frame is complete, you are ready to move on to decking, cornice, and roofing. Once these are complete you will be “dried-in” and ready to install your mechanicals, which will be covered in our next article.

The first item we will cover is the roof decking. These are usually 4x8 sheets of OSB/plywood installed on top of your framing rafters and will provide the support for the roofing materials. It also provides another important insulation feature, radiant barrier. We build homes in the North Texas area where we have a hot climate, so the radiant barrier on our roof decking can help reduce energy costs up to 10%. Radiant barrier decking can also help reduce the loads on HVAC systems by helping keep attic spaces cooler. If you are building a home in a northern climate, it might be more beneficial to install non-radiant barrier decking and opt for more thermal insulation. One last thing to note about roof decking installation is the use of H-clips (deck clips) which are installed between the sheets of decking to help provide stabilization and prevent the decking from popping up or warping causing the “ripple” effect you sometimes see on roofs of homes.

The cornice is the part of the framing process where the windows are installed and trimmed, soffits are built, and siding is installed. Windows will be installed with weatherproof membranes in the rough openings. If your home has siding, it will be installed at this time. The cornice crew will also build the soffits of the home, which are roughly 12” overhang around your home. The vented soffit will have tiny slots or holes in it to help with attic ventilation.

Next, it is time to put on your roof shingles and get “dried-in”. These are the most critical components to a roof install. The underlayment goes between the roof decking the shingles and provides another layer of protection from the elements. Metal roof flashing is installed in certain areas (around chimneys and in roof valleys) of the roof to help provide a channel to drain water off the roof. Ridge vents will go up toward the highest ridgeline of your roof and will help provide more ventilation for the attic space. Shingles are installed and come in many types of materials and options, but a good “standard” shingle is a 30-year dimensional. The shingles are nailed in and then the nails are covered with a sealant. You are now “dried-in” and ready to move on to mechanicals.

Mechanicals are your plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and low voltage. We will cover those topics in our next blog post.