Roof Sheathing Rot

Although the plywood typically lasts longer than most shingles and roof coverings leaks can cause them to rot.

Roof sheathing rot.

Some signs that roof sheathing is damaged or rotted include a sagging ceiling noticeable roof leaks and missing patches of roof shingles or tiles. All roofs have a layer of plywood sheathing underneath them which provides a base for the shingle attachment. 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.

Rotted plywood is identifiable by sinking areas of the roof or visible leaks. Cut away the damaged area. When sheathing is exposed to moisture frequently there is always a chance it will decay or develop wood rot. For starters you may notice a leak in your ceilings that originated from your roof.

Set the depth of your circular saw to the thickness of the roof decking. If your gutters are broken that s also a sign that your sheathing is damaged as functioning gutters help prevent moisture accumulation. As mentioned it is near impossible to see roof sheathing making it very hard to determine when it starts to rot. Damaged shingles and rotted plywood must be removed before replacing them with new plywood and roofing material.

Wood sheathing will eventually rot as excess moisture continually collects on it and the material is unable to properly dry out. Nonetheless there are still telltale signs that indicate you have a sheeting issue.