Rotting Roof Deck
Part of the structure that supports the materials on the surface of your roof is called the roof deck if you find any damage to the roof deck please contact your roofer to have it looked into. You may need a roof repair or a full roof replacement pending on how critical the situation is. The roof deck is the foundation for all exterior roofing materials and is what your shingles are attached to. The roof deck is an important part of your roof because it must meet manufacturer requirements in order for your shingle warranty to be upheld.
Correct Roof Deck Construction
A well-constructed roof deck is comprised of plywood that is at least a half-inch thick. This plywood must be clean, dry and properly secured to the rafters. Older homes used a material called roof board, whereas most homes that were built in the last 50 years used plywood. It is a dimensionally stable wood that does very little expanding and contracting, which is why it is an ideal material for roof decks. However, if exposed to moisture, it can easily warp, rot and delaminate.
How Does a Roof Deck Rot?
A rotting roof deck can be attributed to one of three circumstances:
- Moisture has leaked in from the outside
- Warm, moist air has migrated from your interior home into the attic
- Moisture is trapped inside, which formed as a result of summer or fall weather conditions
During the winter, warm air naturally makes its way into the attic and all the way up to the cold, plywood surface of your roof deck. This warm air then releases its moisture, forming condensation, which can rot the wood. If you notice condensation on your windows, chances are a similar situation exists in your attic.
Buckling Shingles
Half-inch plywood is the perfect configuration for roof deck construction because shingles that are installed on a roof deck with one-inch boards, or boards wider than six inches, are prone to buckling. The larger sized boards expand and contract on a greater scale, which in turn causes the shingles to buckle and this damage makes your roof vulnerable to water penetration.
Fear you may have a rotting roof deck? Contact Integrity Roofers today.
