About ZIP System Panels
ZIP System Wall Sheathing is designed to replace traditional OSB and is becoming a more commonly used solution by pros during home construction. The major benefit of ZIP System panels is that they can be installed in fewer steps.
Installing ZIP System Panels, Tape and Flashing
Inspect the housing frame to ensure that tie-in plates are secure, studs are plumb and walls are braced and free of any installation defects. Repair any issues before moving forward.
Strike chalk lines across the house. Doing this will indicate where the elevation line will be placed.
ZIP System panels can be installed both vertically and horizontally. It’s acceptable to mix the sheathing orientation. The best practice is to make sure that the sheathing panels tie the floor systems and the wall panels tightly to each other. Overlapping the panels all the way to the sill plate and rim joist will create a good rack and secure tie-downs for better strength and longevity.
There are circles and squares on each ZIP System Panel. The circles are for use with 16-inch on-center layouts, and the squares are for 24-inch on-center layouts. Nail into either the circles or the squares, depending on the stud layout. The dash lines along the edges are used both as a reference for a tape seam and to denote an approximate spacing for a 6-inch on-center installation.
Nail the panels 3/8 of an inch from the edge when nailing near the outer dotted lines. Place the nails 12 inches apart, using the circles and the squares as a reference marker. For shear strength and stability, it’s recommended that you use a glue-tip ring shank nail.
Setting the nail gun depth and regulating the pounds per square inch (PSI) of the compressor is crucial when installing ZIP System panels. Each driven nail head should be flush with the face of the sheathing. Overdriving nails into the ZIP System Sheathing will pierce the weather-resistant barrier and can cause future moisture problems. Proper nail depth is extremely important.
Begin the installation process on the long axis, keeping the sheets tightly together, top to bottom. Maintain a 1/8-inch gap when coupling the butt seams to allow for panel expansion.
Place the ZIP System Panel on the layout line and tack the sheathing at the corners to make sure that they’re represented properly on the studs.
Measure to the proper spacing or use the shapes for 16-inch or 24-inch on-center spacing. Push or pull the stud to make sure that it’s straight from top to bottom. It’s better to position the sheet horizontally rather than vertically. That way a single framer can adjust the stud to take the bow out of the middle by pushing or pulling the stud to the center of the layout line.
When installing ZIP System panels, use a minimum of a 32-inch offset, but 48 inches is preferred. This will ensure that there aren’t vertically stacked seams across the entire wall. Maintaining stair-stepped or stagger-stepped sheathing seams will give shear strength to the wall.
Once the sheathing is fastened, prep the seams for tape. Inspect all nail patterns, ensuring they’re set correctly before moving forward. Wipe down the seam areas with a dry rag or use a blower to remove all sawdust, dirt and water before applying flashing tape to the sheathing seams.
Ensure the tape is centered over the seams within plus or minus 1/2 an inch to provide adequate coverage. Wherever tape splices occur at a horizontal or vertical seam, create an overlapping splice of at least 3 inches. At T-joints, the tape pieces should overlap by at least 1 inch.
When taping inside joints, it’s helpful to fold the tape vertically before applying it to ensure the tape fully reaches the inside corner seam. Tape over any areas of the panel that were damaged during construction, including overdriven nails.
Use the ZIP System J-Roller to apply pressure to the tape and smooth out any wrinkles. This will also emboss all seams with a Z pattern, making it easier to inspect the seams for proper sealing.
Install doors, windows and any other wall penetrations. Seal all penetrations and flanges with ZIP System Tape or ZIP System Stretch Tape.
After installing all doors and windows and flashing wall penetrations, install all trim and cladding.
This demonstration is intended for professionals only. Homeowners should not attempt these projects without first consulting a licensed professional. Lowe’s is in no way affiliated with the professional contractors shown.