Sarking boards
Sarking boards are softwood boards which can be attached to pitched rafters to provide a roof with or additional insulation protection and other benefits when specified and installed appropriately. STEICO sarking boards are a wood fibre solution that is suitable for many different types of property and can contribute to your overall sustainability strategy through responsible sourcing, carbon binding and potential thermal efficiency benefits
What are sarking boards and where should they be used?
Sarking boards can be added to a roof build up as a second protective layer for the roof. When installed appropriately, they can offer some of the following benefits:
- Additional acoustic and thermal insulation
- Extra protection from rain and wind during and after construction
They’re not mandatory on any build, but they can be especially useful for the following applications:
- Homes facing extreme weather – Sarking boards are typically found on buildings in areas with high wind, lots of rainfall and other adverse weather conditions. For example, you will find them more often in Scotland and the North of England than you would on the South Coast of England.
- New builds – Because of where they sit in the roof construction (see below roof structure section), sarking boards are much easier to install on new builds. Adding them to a renovation project can be much more complicated.
STEICOuniversal dry
Sarking and sheathing board made using the "dry process". Secure rain protection.
STEICOuniversal
Sarking and sheathing board made using the wet process. Secure rain protection.
STEICOspecial dry
Sarking and sheathing board made using the dry process. Secure rain protection.
STEICOsafe
Base sheet for flat sloping roofs and for use behind facings.
How sarking boards fit into the overall roof structure
Sarking boards are part of the overall roof build up. A standard build up might be as follows:
- Vapour control membrane
- Rafters, with insulation below or between them
- Sarking boards
- Breather membrane
- Roof tiles or other finish
If you are renovating your home or retrofitting it to make it more energy efficient, sarking boards can be added. However, this will require the temporary removal of the roof covering to fit them which is a labour-intensive job and may increase the cost of the works.
The key features and benefits of STEICO wood fibre sarking boards
The primary focus of STEICO wood fibre sarking boards is to protect the building fabric from weathering and to keep the new or existing timbers warmer which reduces the risks of interstitial condensation. Additionally, they can contribute to your sustainability strategy when specified and installed correctly through:
- Responsible sourcing – STEICO sarking boards are manufactured from PEFC-accredited timber (PEFC/04-31-2550).
- Carbon binding – A cubic metre of our wood fibre sarking board (e.g. STEICOuniversal) binds 458kg CO2eq during Life Cycle Stage A1 as defined in EN 15804+A2.
When used in conjunction with a STEICO insulation product like STEICOzell air-injected insulation, our sarking boards can be installed at a thickness of just 22mm. That profile allows for an effective roof build up without adding more height to the system than is necessary.
