Rotted Plywood Under Roof: Everything Homeowners Must Know

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Rotted Plywood Under Roof: Everything Edmonton AB Homeowners Must Know

We always pay attention to the curb appeal and overall aesthetics of an Edmonton AB property's residential roofing. However, we don't too much in the structure that supports and maintains the entire roof itself. Roof decks are often secondary, and only professional Edmonton AB contractors with skill and experience discover rotted plywood under roof when homeowners decide to have a repair or replacement.

However, you won't need to call a contractor all the time to discover if you have rotted roof decking. Often, rotted plywood under roof has indicators that signal when it's time to replace them. Long Roofing has a good idea about this -- check it out.

Clear Signs of Rotted Plywood Under Roof

One of the most common signs that a roof’s decking is damaged is a roof leak.

Water leakage can lead to ceiling spots or leaks, stains on interior walls, cracked paint, or peeling wallpaper. A quick inspection of the attic might uncover dark water stains on the rafters or in the insulation, or even light passing through holes in the roof. If left undetected, mold and mildew will develop in the walls, ceilings and insulation.

A sagging ceiling or roofline is another clue that there are major problems with a roof’s decking and the roofing structure. Soaked or waterlogged decking can warp, which can lead to a bowed or wavy roofline and ceiling.

Because your roof is so important and yet, so vulnerable to exposure and weather, the National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that you have your roof inspected twice a year—once in the fall, after hot weather has subsided, and once in the spring, after the danger of ice and snow is behind you. You should also have your roof inspected after a big storm, hurricane, or other potentially damaging weather event. (Continued)

If a roof deck section becomes rotten, does it mean you'll need to replace all rotted plywood under roof? This is correct in the majority of cases. However, it doesn't mean you'll only order one form of roof deck plywood. Some roof slopes require thicker or thinner plywoods depending on roof slopes, rafters, and the general roof design.

SF Gate has a great enumeration of factors that determine the thicknesses needed to replace rotted plywood under roof and restore your roof's durability and performance. Learn more about it below.

The Thicknesses of Plywood for Roof Deck Repairs

Plywood Is Layers of Wood

Plywood is made with three or more layers of thin wood glued together with the grain alternating. It is typically made in 4-by-8-foot sheets, although longer panels are available for special purposes. It is a flexible, durable, inexpensive covering for roofs because each panel will cover 32 square feet. It comes in multiple thicknesses from 1/4 inch to at least 1 inch; those above 1/4-inch typically have five layers of wood. The material cuts easily using a circular saw or handheld cutting tool equipped with a 3-inch multipurpose carbide wheel which lends to its popularity.

The thickness of plywood used for roof decking depends on the roof slope, the spacing of rafters and the weight of other material to be put over the decking, as well as the design "load" — the amount of pressure exerted by various forces and the weather, especially weight of snow or ice accumulations. The wider the rafter spacing, the heavier the shingling, the lower the slope and the heavier the weather load, the thicker the plywood will have to be. (Continued)