The roof decking—the base of your roof—is just as important as the shingles attached to it. After all, without a sturdy base, your roof won’t be able to handle strong winds or heavy rain. What are the other things every homeowner should know about their roofing system’s decking?
Your Roof Decking Serves as a Second Layer of Protection Against Leaks
Aside from distributing the weight of shingles throughout the roofing structure, roof decking can also serve as a secondary barrier against leaks in case rainwater manages to seep in through gaps between or cracks on shingles. Keep in mind the roof decking needs to have waterproof materials attached to its base to serve as an effective layer of protection against moisture.
There Are Different Kinds of Roof Decking
There are different kinds of roof decking, each with varying levels of resistance to moisture. Here’s a quick overview of the three most common types:
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Oriented strand board (OSB) – OSB is the most common type of decking. The material is made by intertwining wood strands and bonding them using a waterproof resin.
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Plywood sheathing – This type of decking is denser than OSB and is therefore more resistant to moisture and rot damage.
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Step sheathing decking – Perpendicular sheathing deck boards are spaced a few inches apart to allow air to circulate underneath the decking.
You Don’t Necessarily Need to Install New Decking When You Get a Roof Replacement
Do you need to replace the decking whenever you get a roof replacement? It depends on the condition of your decking. A contractor will need to inspect your underside of your deck for signs of damage through the crawlspace or the attic first. Keep in mind this inspection method isn’t always entirely accurate. There’s a chance your contractor might not discover signs of decking damage until they actually remove the shingles.
Given how tricky inspecting roof decking is, you need to make sure an experienced contractor conducts the inspection.
Royal Roofing Construction, a company with over 30 years of experience, offers a wide range of professional residential and commercial roofing services. To get a free estimate, call us at (714) 680-0015 or leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Anaheim, CA, as well as the surrounding communities.
