Roof Sheathing Rot

While a single exposure to moisture is unlikely to lead to rot routine water exposure may.

Roof sheathing rot.

These thin sheets of wood absorb moisture when exposed to it through excess condensation or a roof leak. For starters you may notice a leak in your ceilings that originated from your roof. As mentioned it is near impossible to see roof sheathing making it very hard to determine when it starts to rot. All roofs have a layer of plywood sheathing underneath them which provides a base for the shingle attachment.

Although the plywood typically lasts longer than most shingles and roof coverings leaks can cause them to rot. Damaged shingles and rotted plywood must be removed before replacing them with new plywood and roofing material. You may need to cut a little extra to expose enough of the trusses and make sure you get rid of all the rotten wood. When replacing roof decking you first need to get rid of the old rotten section.

When sheathing is exposed to moisture frequently there is always a chance it will decay or develop wood rot. Rotted plywood is identifiable by sinking areas of the roof or visible leaks. If your gutters are broken that s also a sign that your sheathing is damaged as functioning gutters help prevent moisture accumulation. Most roof decking also called sheathing is plywood or oriented strand board osb.

Some signs that roof sheathing is damaged or rotted include a sagging ceiling noticeable roof leaks and missing patches of roof shingles or tiles. Cut away the damaged area.