Home and Garden | Install Wood Fiber Panels - Roofing

Wood-fiber panels are another handy alternative to wood shingles. They are embossed with deep shadow lines and random-cut grooves that mimic the look of shakes.

These 12x48-inch panels are applied lengthwise across the roof. They overlap with a shiplap joint between courses and a lap joint between shingles in the same course.

The panels can be applied over solid sheathing or over old roofing (if the surface is sound and a layer of felt is added first). Cut the panels with a circular saw equipped with a plywood-cutting blade.

Wood-fiber panels are quick and easy to install, and after a few months they weather to a silver-like gray very similar to cedar shingles. Use them on roofs that have a 4 in 12 or greater slope

PROJECT BASICS

Project: Moderate
Estimated Project Time: 1 day
Start Tips: Make sure the plywood-cutting saw blade is sharp
Safety Tips: Wear safety goggles when using your circular saw
Recommendation: Do-it-Yourself

TOOLS & MATERIALS

Wood-fiber panels	30-lb. felt
11-gauge roofing nails that penetrate 3/4 inch into the	W-metal flashing
16-gauge staples that penetrate 1 inch into the deck	Circular saw with a plywood-cutting blade

Fig. 1

INSTRUCTIONS

Circular saw with a plywood cutting blade
Before installing wood-fiber shingles, apply:

a) a drip edge,
b) 18 inch-wide 30-pound felt at the eaves, and
c) a 36 inch-wide 30-pound felt underlayment.

Cut 2-1/2-inch-wide panel starter strips, applying them so that they overlap the eaves by 1 inch and the rakes by 2 inches (Fig. 1).

As you apply the the first course of full panels, offset the joints by 15 inches. Apply 8 fasteners per panel: Begin with one centered over the shiplap joint and end with one 3 inches in from the edge.

Use 11-gauge roofing nails that penetrate 3/4 inch into the deck, or 16-gauge staples that penetrate 1 inch into the deck.

Fig. 2

2) Apply subsequent courses
Add the subsequent courses, offsetting end joints by at least 15 inches. (Fig. 2)

The panels have two kinds of grooves in them: one mimics the ridges found in a hand-split shake, while the other is deeper and mimics the gap between shingles. For a better appearance, avoid lining up the deeper grooves even though functionally it makes no difference.

Wood fiber panels have two score lines for your convenience: one for aligning the course, the other as a nailing guide. Still, check the alignment every six or eight courses by measuring up from the eaves. Strike a chalk line if adjustment is needed.

Fig. 3

3) Prepare the valleys
Line the valleys with 36-inch felt and 24-inch wide W-metal.

Trim panels to within a minimum of 4 inches from the centerline of the valley, and clip 2 inches off the topmost corner of each panel along the valley. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 4

4) Finish ridges and hips
Ridges and hips are finished with manufactured caps scored with spacing guidelines.

After wrapping the ridge or hip with a 10-inch piece of felt, apply three fasteners in a triangular pattern to each shingle. Be careful to stay 1 inch inside of the overlap line. (Fig. 4)

Wood-Fiber Panels