When you’re working in an area of the country that is prone to high winds—including hurricanes—structural strength for your builds is critical. If severe weather occurs, choosing sheathing for homes in hurricane areas can help mitigate damage and potentially reduce the extent of rebuilding necessary.
LP WeatherLogic® Air & Water Barrier serves as water-resistive barrier sheathing and, because it is classified as Structural I Sheathing, it also adds structural strength. Let’s examine why LP WeatherLogic panels can be a great fit for builders in high-wind areas.
Considering Sheathing for Houses in High-Wind Areas
Builders are likely to have concerns about high winds in a couple of key areas. The obvious regions are along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, where there are numerous hurricanes throughout the hurricane season. However, many regions of the US can experience very high straight-line winds in the range of hurricane force wind speeds.
In these regions, high winds can create substantial lateral—i.e. horizontal—loads on a structure. The winds push on the windward—or upwind—walls and create suction that pulls on the leeward—or downwind—walls. These loads are additive and require shear walls to transfer those loads down to the foundation.
With that in mind, air- and water-resistive barrier sheathing with more than the standard level of structural strength can be helpful for homes that are prone to high winds.
Can Plywood and OSB Sheathing Be Used in High Wind Zones?
Plywood and OSB, including OSB-based products such as LP WeatherLogic Air & Water Barrier, can be used as sheathing in areas prone to high winds. Code-referenced shear wall tables provide design information based on a product’s Performance Category (nominal thickness) and Grade (Sheathing or Structural I Sheathing), so builders can make the best choice for each project and its specific design considerations.
In some areas, materials discussions have made their way to city councils for official votes on codes and approved building solutions. Check out this case study from Galveston, Texas, and read more about how builders can balance resilient design with building codes in hurricane zones.
Wind and Rain Sheathing: LP WeatherLogic® Air & Water Barrier
Classified as Structural I sheathing, LP WeatherLogic panels boast increased shear wall and diaphragm capacity, compared to standard Sheathing for both walls and roofs. The water-resistive membrane added to the OSB sheathing provides moisture resistance. Completing the system with the LP WeatherLogic Tape or Sealant helps you create a complete water-resistive barrier against moisture.
Structural I Sheathing is a PS 2 grade of wood structural panel that has higher racking/shear strength and cross-panel bending than the standard sheathing grade. In high-wind zones, this affords the designer an increased shear wall strength to resist the lateral loads induced on a structure.
LP WeatherLogic Air & Water Barrier helps you design for the structural strength you’ll need for building in a high-wind zone. It also offers a proven moisture management system and easy installation due to the integration of the sheathing panel and water-resistive overlay. This helps you create a water-resistive barrier (WRB) by sealing all the panel joints with LP WeatherLogic Seam & Flashing Tape or Sealant.
Choosing Sheathing for Homes in High-Wind Areas
Can sheathing help protect your home from the wind? Yes, but it requires attention to proper design and installation - and even that may not be enough to withstand strong hurricanes and fast straight-line winds. But building with LP WeatherLogic Air & Water Barrier can help you design for strength and provide moisture management with one system.
Looking for other ways to help safeguard your build against high winds? Check out how our siding stands up to hurricane-level winds.
