Looking to find out who out there has used the zip wall system for walls and roofs ? Checked out a job her in Mass., just happened to be driving by and man what a mess. This stuff was wavy as hell! They put it on running vertical which is in the new code for us here in Mass near the Ocean in the 110 zone . All the joints seemed to be puckering and the builder used too much pressure in his gun when nailing it and nails are sunk halfway through. Personally ,I’m not impressed at all with this stuff. All it is ,is particle board with a resin coating but I see alot of guys trying it to eliminate the building wrap. Any Comments out there ? Does anyone know if they make this stuff in a cdx?
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I used it on the walls and roof of a house last winter... also in MA, but not near the coast. I walked away from the job with mixed feelings. Taping all those seams was a time consuming royal PIA that none of us wanted to do after the first few walls. And the roof was an even bigger PIA for obvious reasons. While I think it seemed ok to skip the housewrap with this system, I wouldn't trust it enough to skip out on I&W and felt in all the normal places. That being said... we really didn't have a problem with over driving nails...that's user error more than anything. And we didn't have any problems with seams bulging either but we also taped most of them as we went along. Not all, but most of them. As a side note, it was also murder on saw blades. And window detailing was 'interesting'. We ended up taping all the edges around the RO's to seal the cuts. More work than it was worth in my opinion.
I did like the fact that we were pretty much dried in as soon as we were done sheathing the roof. I had a guy taping following the guy nailing down panels as we went a long.
At this point, couldn't say I'd use it on my own house.
Edited 2/22/2009 10:35 pm ET by dieselpig
I have used zip system for two years now. I have not had any issues and really prefer it over locally available CDX-3 or four ply SYP. It is made by Huber, the same folks that make Advantec, and it is far better than any OSB out there. I have had pieces sitting outside for for two years with limited swelling and it retains its strength.
I think the impression you got of the product was from a bad install. This stuff lays flat, has built in spacing so you do not need clips and you are dried in as soon as the tape is done. I had a 30 square roof open for three months and only two leaks in the roof and those were in valleys that were badly taped. I use Ice and water in the valleys from the get go now and no issues. I have not had any problems with the tape.
Best of luck,
Bruce