Pros installing high R-value insulated sheathing: drop the hammer! Grip-Rite® SpeedSpike™ is here to make your installations over 5x faster*. As energy and building codes evolve to include continuous insulation on the exterior of home builds, the old solutions aren’t cutting it.
Until now, no widely available collated fastener has been able to achieve the embedment depth required by code. Because of this hole in the market, each sheet of thick sheathing increases the time your crew spends on each job. Pre-drilling and hand-driving each of the forty-plus fasteners required takes a significant amount of time.
Couple that with a reduced labor force, and you have the perfect storm of inefficient installations and smaller, more expensive crews.
Grip-Rite® SpeedSpike™ is designed with the pro in mind. It speeds up installation over five times faster* than hand driving, provides deeper embedment, and has stronger holding power than current competitors.
With SpeedSpike™, you can move quickly through high R-value sheathing jobs. Increased efficiency enables you to expand your share of the competitive residential market without compromising on code requirements.
The Jobsite Reality: Installing High R-Value Sheathing
With the release of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), buildings are now required to meet the 2018 standards, which placed a heavy emphasis on high R-value continuous insulation. Every state adopts these codes at different rates, but the basic details remain the same.
Code stipulates a minimum R-value for exterior walls in a climate zone that can be comprised of structural components and continuous insulation.
For example, in Climate Zone 1, the R-value requirement is R-13 without CI, but 0 & 10 CI. In Climate Zone 6, wall assemblies must have an R-value of R-30 or R-20 & 5 CI, or R-13 & 10 CI, or R-0 & 20 CI.
Higher R-values bring much-needed energy efficiency, and they also increase the sheathing thickness in the process. In climate zones where continuous insulation is required, the code stipulates that fasteners must reach 1.5” embedment into the stud. Proper depth increases the structural integrity of a wall system and reduces the chance of failure.
Even when hand driving, contractors must meet this depth, and for consistency, pre-drilling is part of the process. To avoid this, some contractors use available collated nails that don’t meet the proper depth or the necessary strength. Instead of banging your head against the wall, drop the hammer and grab the new Grip-Rite® SpeedSpike™.
Introducing Grip-Rite® SpeedSpike™ – Built for the New Wall Standard
Transform your high R-value wall builds with the speed and power of Grip-Rite® SpeedSpike™. As the first widely available collated fastener for wall assemblies using continuous insulation, it’s a reliable partner on your jobsite.
SpeedSpike™ Fast Facts:
4-1/2″ Ring Shank, 21° Plastic Strip Collated
Compatible with Bostitch® BRT130, MAX® HS130, and Fasco® F91AC RHN20-160 framing nailers
Full 2″-2.5” stud embedment through sheathing and foam
Hot Galvanized coating for corrosion resistance
Engineered for Jam Free™ operation in compatible pneumatic tools
In internal speed tests*, it outperformed hand driving by over 500% and achieved a minimum of 2” embedment through any insulated sheathing currently in use. An aggressive ring shank enhances grip in wood studs, locking into fibers for a stronger hold than a smooth shank.
Where SpeedSpike™ Makes the Biggest Impact
Grip-Rite® SpeedSpike™ allows pros to enhance their building process and complete jobs efficiently. In areas that require high R-value exterior sheathing, the difference is clear. Most products require up to 42 fasteners per sheet for strength and shear resistance. With SpeedSpike™, a blazing-fast installation means that crews can move faster with confidence.
Builders in Climate Zones 5 through 8 take on most of these jobs due to changing code requirements. New builds in these areas must adhere to stricter standards, and it shouldn’t hurt your bottom line to comply with the code. Instead, pros can count on consistently high performance and increased efficiency, all while creating more energy-efficient homes.
Compatible Wall Systems
Top-selling insulated sheathing manufacturers specify nail length according to current building codes. For higher R-values, this means a longer nail is required to achieve proper embedment.
Grip-Rite® SpeedSpike™ exceeds requirements for 1.5” embedment in all cases with room to spare. It’s more than just extra length, though. The ring shank provides strength and resiliency under extreme weather conditions that cause high shear and lateral forces to impact the material.
Built to Keep Up with Code and Crew Needs
As more states adopt current energy codes that require continuous insulation, professionals will have to adapt. Using Grip-Rite® Speed-Spike™, contractors can keep pace with accelerated build calendars and pass inspection the first time.
Crews hand-driving nails in insulated sheathing panels essentially do their job twice. Pre-drilling before driving means additional time spent on each fastener. For a 2000-square-foot home with Zip-R on the exterior walls, that could translate to 3,600-3,700 fasteners. If each requires pre-drilling, that translates to around 15 seconds per nail, or 15 to 20 hours for the whole build.
In internal testing, SpeedSpike™ drives over 5 times faster* than hand driving. Using the above scenario, a framing crew could drive the same number of nails in around 3 or 4 hours.
SpeedSpike Calculator
Grip-Rite® SpeedSpike™ Calculator
Calculate nail quantities and time savings for exterior wall installations
Calculating your nail requirements and time savings
Total Nails Needed
0
Nails
Boxes Required
0
Boxes
2000 nails per box
Time Savings with SpeedSpike
0
Hours Saved
5x faster than hand driving
Calculation Breakdown
Wall Area/Length:0 sq ft
Nails per sq ft:1.31 nails
Traditional install time:0 hours
SpeedSpike install time:0 hours
Productivity increase:500%
Why Choose SpeedSpike?
Revolutionary Speed:5x faster than traditional hand-driven nails, dramatically reducing installation time.
Professional Quality: Collated design ensures consistent depth and angle for superior holding power.
Reduced Labor Costs: Complete projects faster with less physical strain on your crew.
Bulk Packaging:2000 nails per box means fewer trips to the supplier and better job site efficiency.
Note: Calculations based on 42 nails per 4’x8′ sheathing sheet (1.31 nails per sq ft) and 15 seconds per nail for conventional hand driving. Actual requirements may vary based on local codes, framing spacing, and installation method.
Drop the hammer…Just SPIKE IT!
As the rest of the country begins adopting new building and energy codes, one thing is clear: continuous insulation requirements are here to stay. With the extreme time savings possible with Grip-Rite® SpeedSpike™, skilled labor shortages won’t slow your crew down, and they can complete more work in less time.
Spending hours pre-drilling and hand-nailing high R-value sheathing doesn’t have to be part of your builds anymore. Instead, drop the hammer and just spike it! Find out Where to Buy Grip-Rite® SpeedSpike™ near you.
*Over 5x faster” claim based on tests of pneumatic nail gun operation vs. traditional hand-driven methods by experienced operators under normal conditions. Actual results may vary based on job site conditions, operator experience, and material specifications.
