Roof Plywood Rot

Remove the shingles over the area of the rotted roof decking identified previously.

Roof plywood rot.

How to replace rotted roof plywood sheathing step 1. Climb up and walk carefully onto the roof. Gain access to the attic to inspect the plywood or roof decking. Most roof decking also called sheathing is plywood or oriented strand board osb.

Most roof decking is made from plywood or a plywood composite known as oriented strand board osb. Locate the rotted roof decking. Wood rot is a form of decay triggered by the combination of moisture and fungi microscopic organisms. Set up a ladder at an even location on the ground next to the home.

During a reroof start at the peak of the roof and remove all shingles prying them up with a pitchfork working your way down the roof. Locate nails that hold shingles. Leave the next course of shingles intact by carefully removing the second set of four nails. Working your way up the roof expose all of the rotted wood.

In order for fungi to set up shop the wood must be continuously damp. Sure there are scenarios where it would not be the roofer s fault inadequate attic ventilation causing rot from below due to attic condensation or frosting wind damage to flashing or broken torn off shingles defective shingles though rare allowing ice snow damming which allows water to back up under the shingles animal chewing into the roof rare leaking ducts or vents physical damage as from falling tree limbs letting moss build up on the roof and more. These thin sheets of wood absorb moisture when exposed to it through excess condensation or a roof leak. Osb is composed of intertwining wood strands bonded together by a waterproof resin and is a popular option due to its low price point.

What are different types of roof decking. I would not install plastic on the sheathing because it s a vapor barrier. Remove all of the shingles using a pry bar or a shingle ripper tool to detach the nails. And if a home s roof decking is rotting and unable to support the weight of the roof it can cause some very serious structural issues.

Pull up the felt paper underneath the shingles. How to fix rotted roof decking 1. The asphalt in the felt paper is waterproof and does a great job of protecting the untreated wood roof sheathing. Look up at the roof.

When sheathing is exposed to moisture frequently there is always a chance it will decay or develop wood rot. Generally plywood roof decking that has gotten wet and had the shingles applied over it if allowed to dry out will not be seriously damaged by wood rot fungus organisms.