An additional panel sheathing that was not discussed last month – Huber Zip System. It is new to the industry and standing out due to its advancements and step saving properties.

Zip panels are OSB wall and roof panels with upgrades. The OSB is constructed with more resin content and a “facer”, the face is impregnated with a mesh material and latex paint (usually green which makes them easily recognizable.) “Why?” you ask. To save steps and improve efficiencies.

Years ago, siding boards were covered with rosin paper. As the building industry advanced, we coated the rosin paper with tar, alas tar paper. The next evolution was Tyvek, it controlled against water as tar paper did, but also could be taped to control air passage. It controls the passage of air AND water. Finally, Huber’s Zip system emerged in which the OSB panels and tape system create an air and water control WITHOUT the need for tarpaper, Tyvek, or other rolled substrate. The additional step is redundant since the facer makes the panel waterproof and the tape give air and water control.

This innovation is worth noting for two reasons. The first, in home building efficiency (both in construction and performance) is critical. If a home builder can construct a house faster that performs better (for a similar cost*) than it’s a win. Second, since it’s a big improvement to OSB, the industry will not hold their noses over its use and may actually come to prefer it to CDX. It caught This Old House’s attention and it’s been featured on the program. That is a big step for an OSB product. Making this structural panel alternative potentially the best for many homes.

*At time of this post Zip is approximately the same price as CDX (which is almost twice the cost of OSB).