Our roofs take a beating throughout the year. Hail rain, freezing and thawing can really take a toll on our roofs. Roof decking or sheathing is an underlayer of wood that supports and secures the other parts of your roof.
When your roof gets damaged due to age or storms, the decking can also become damaged, weakening the entire roof. Ideally, you want to get the repairs to the roof before it reaches the decking.
Causes of Roof Decking Rot
Moisture is your worst enemy when it comes to roof damage and the decking. Because the decking is almost some type of wood, when there are leaks, the wood absorbs the water.
If you don’t know there are holes or broken tiles on your roof, the moisture can seep in for a long time before you are even aware of it. Without a proper chance to dry out, the moisture will spread and the decking will start to rot.
Extensive Damage
During a heavy wet period in the spring or a lot of melting snow and ice, the decking can become damaged and affect more than just the roof. You may notice leaks inside the home, stains and dampness on the walls, and mold.
You may notice that your doors, windows, and cabinet doors are not fitting properly. There may be a musty moldy smell and even issues with your electrical system can all be affected.
Check your attic for stains, mold, soft or swollen wood, leaks, and a musty smell. There may be darker patches on the ceiling or the walls, and even the floorboards may be swelling and lifting.
Call a Professional
Even if you don’t see any obvious signs but suspect there may be a rotting roof deck, you need to call a professional to come in and inspect your roof. You don’t want to leave it too long, as the damage can spread and cause structural damage to the entire home.
Your roofing contractor will be able to tell you if you have rotting decking. They can make the repairs and fix the problems that are causing it in the first place.
You don’t want to get on your roof and start walking around. If you do have a rotting roof deck, there is a good chance you can step on an affected area and cause more damage, and risk injuring yourself.
Making Repairs
The first step will be to remove all of the damaged area so your contractor can get to the rotting deck. They may need to remove shingles, flashing, roofing nails, and all the underlayment.
Once they can reach the decking, they can assess the problem and the extent of the damage. If it is extensive, they will need to remove quite a bit of your roof to access it all.
Once they reach it, they may be able to remove the rotting wood and replace it. If it has gone too far, you may need to replace the entire roof. This is why it is so important to have roof inspections.
New Decking
The new pieces of decking need to be custom cut. They need to cover the area where the rotting ones were removed and the same thickness so they lay flat. These custom-cut pisces will be very secure and attached to the rafters.
Each piece needs to be cut exactly to make sure there are no gaps, that they all lay flat and secure, and very often, they will add some type of waterproofing or rot-resistant substance to seal it all in.
Once that is finished, they will replace the underlying, the flashings and the shingles. The underlying will be overlapped to help prevent more leaks or moisture from seeping in again.
Call The Pros
Checking your attic for suspected roof rot is something you can do on your own. But that’s where your part ends. This is not a DIY job, and you shouldn’t try to do it, either.
You can cause more damage to the roof, get hurt, and there is a chance that your homeowner’s insurance may not cover your attempts at repairs. Always count on your professional roofing contractor to take care of your roofing needs.