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Installation Recommendations for STYROFOAM™ SIS™ Brand Structural Insulated Sheathing on Exterior Walls

Installing STYROFOAM SIS™ Brand Structural Insulated Sheathing is quick and easy. View the installation video.
Installation Instructions for STYROFOAM™ SIS™ Brand Structural Insulated Sheathing on Exterior Walls (308KB PDF)

STYROFOAM SIS Brand Structural Insulated Sheathing combines structural shear bracing, insulation and water-resistive barrier properties. This sheathing can be used as braced wall panels integrated with other rigid insulated sheathing, or it can serve as continuous structural insulated sheathing on the entire braced wall line.

Figure 1
Figure 1.

*STURDY-R insulation requires housewrap to qualify
as a water-resistive barrier (WRB).

Tools and Materials Checklist
To install STYROFOAM SIS™ Brand sheathing, you will need:
  • Work surface (sawhorses, etc.)
  • Circular saw
  • Straight edge/chalk line
  • Safety glasses/goggles and gloves
  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil/chalk
  • Approved fasteners for structural bracing
    • 1/2" STYROFOAM SIS sheathing:
      1-1/2" x 0.113" shank dia. (minimum) or
      1-3/4" (minimum) roofing nails
    • 1" STYROFOAM SIS sheathing:
      2" x 0.113" shank dia. (minimum) framing nails
  • Pneumatic nail gun
  • WEATHERMATE™ Construction Tape (2-7/8" wide) 
  • WEATHERMATE™ or WEATHERMATE™ Plus housewrap  (optional)

Braced Wall Panel Applications
  1. Wear gloves and eye protection.
  2. To mark board before cutting, drag the hook of a measuring tape along the printed side of the board while holding the other end of the tape at the desired measurement. Or use a straight edge to mark a cutting line.
  3. Set the board on a flat, sturdy surface for ease and safety in cutting. Follow the cutting line with a circular saw.
  4. With the BLUE™, non-reflective, resilient exterior surface facing the exterior, install the board vertically with long joints in contact with one another and bearing directly on the framing members (Figure 1).
  5. Secure board using recommended fasteners, spacing fasteners as indicated in Table 1. Countersinking fasteners into sheathing using pneumatic nail gun is acceptable.
  6. Tape fastened board joints with WEATHERMATE™ Construction Tape (2-7/8" wide) (Figure 2). If a WEATHERMATE™ housewrap  product or equivalent will be installed on top of sheathing, tape the housewrap seams instead.
  7. Repeat steps 2-5 to install non-structural insulation from Dow, except follow fastening pattern as indicated in Table 2.

Figure 2
WEATHERMATE™ Construction Tape (2-7/8" wide)
Figure 2. WEATHERMATE™ Construction Tape (2-7/8" wide)

TABLE 1

Fastening Pattern for Braced Wall Panel Applications
Side of Board Recommended Space Between Each Fastener (inches)
Perimeter 3
Field 6

 

 

TABLE 2

Fastening Pattern for Non-Structural Insulation Applications(1)
Side of Board Recommended Space Between Each Fastener (inches)
Perimeter 6
Field 12

(1) Based on boards 4' wide. If using boards 2' wide, secure 16" o.c. on each stud
(3 fasteners per stud) or as required by the code authority having jurisdiction.

Continuous Structural Insulated Sheathing Applications
Figure 3
Figure 3.
 
  1. Wear gloves and eye protection.
  2. To mark board before cutting, drag the hook of a measuring tape along the printed side of the board while holding the other end of the tape at the desired measurement. Or use a straight edge to mark a cutting line.
  3. Set the board on a flat, sturdy surface for ease and safety in cutting. Follow the cutting line with a circular saw.
  4. With the BLUE™, non-reflective, resilient exterior surface facing the exterior, install the board vertically with long joints in contact with one another and bearing directly on the framing members (Figure 3).
  5. Secure board using recommended fasteners, spacing fasteners as indicated in Table 3. Countersinking fasteners into sheathing using pneumatic nail gun is acceptable
  6. Repeat steps 2-5 as necessary.
  7. Tape fastened board joints with WEATHERMATE™ Construction Tape (2-7/8" wide) (Figure 4). If a WEATHERMATE™ housewrap product  or equivalent will be installed on top of sheathing, tape the housewrap seams instead. 
Figure 4
WEATHERMATE™ Construction Tape (2-7/8" wide)

Figure 4. WEATHERMATE™ Construction Tape (2-7/8" wide) 

TABLE 3

Fastening Pattern for Continuous Structural Insulated Sheathing Applications
Side of Board Recommended Space Between Each Fastener (inches)
Perimeter 3
Field 6

Related Information
MSDS
SIS Product MSDS Information
WEATHERMATE™ Product Pages
WEATHERMATE Construction Tape
WEATHERMATE Housewrap
WEATHERMATE Plus Housewrap
Warranties
STYROFOAM SIS™ 15 Year Thermal Warranty (69KB PDF)
WEATHERMATE Weather Barrier Solutions Limited Warranty