Roof Plywood Rot

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.

Roof plywood rot.

Most roof decking is made from plywood or a plywood composite known as oriented strand board osb. How to tell if your plywood is rotting. The type of sheathing matters but only marginally. Rotted plywood requires replacement.

Prime spots in the attic for wood rot are on the underside of the roof decking in the joints where the wood members connect at the peak of the roof and at the edges of the attic where the. Wet rot will use the damp timber as a source of food to grow. What are different types of roof decking. When sheathing is exposed to moisture frequently there is always a chance it will decay or develop wood rot.

Historically bulk water leaks are responsible for more rot issues than vapor diffusion but both are important for the long term. This leaking can lead to other signs of rotting roof decking too like ceiling spots cracked paint or wallpaper starting to peel. Although the plywood typically lasts longer than most shingles and roof coverings leaks can cause them to rot. Sheathing rot is a major problem in wood frame construction and if you are going to build a new house you should take it into consideration.

Most roof decking also called sheathing is plywood or oriented strand board osb. Typically the most common reasons for a wet rot outbreak is due to building defects or defective plumbing that has allowed water to dampen the timber. One of the easiest ways to tell is if your roof is beginning to leak there is probably some moisture in the roof decking. 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. To prevent sheathing rot you have to act upon the 1 causes. Cut away the damaged area. I ll let you know in 5 years if i m wrong since i ll have a new roof plywood and no ridge vent.

All roofs have a layer of plywood sheathing underneath them which provides a base for the shingle attachment. How to spot wet rot. When replacing roof decking you first need to get rid of the old rotten section. Wet rot will occur if it has three keys components moisture timber and temperatures below 40 degrees.

The glue used to hold the plywood s veneers together will begin to break down when it is exposed to moisture over a long period of time allowing additional water to become trapped inside the plywood with no way to dry. Plywood becomes susceptible to rot when it is left exposed to the elements or trapped in a moist area such as inside a basement without proper ventilation to allow the moisture to dry. 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. There are more important features to consider.