How Roof Repairs Might Be Done When The Deck Of Your Roof Has Water Damage
It's important to repair leaks on your roof as quickly as you can because a small leak can lead to a lot of roof damage given enough time. Your roof doesn't always have to sustain damage to leak. A roofing nail could back out and leave the hole open and let water drain on the deck. However, roof damage, such as a cracked or missing shingle, could cause water damage to speed up. When the deck rots because of moisture, it has to be replaced. Here's a look at how that's done.
The Shingles Are Removed
Shingles above the bad deck have to be removed. The roofer may remove neighboring shingles too to make sure the entire rotted area is seen and reachable. If the old shingles are still in good shape and not damaged by the water or by removing them, it might be possible to put the old shingles back on when the deck is repaired. However, your roofer might recommend putting new shingles on instead, especially if the old ones are worn out.
The Damage To The Deck Is Assessed
Once the shingles are gone, the roofer can actually see the deck and determine what repairs need to be done. At the least, the plywood deck will need to be replaced. If the rafters are rotted too, those will need to be repaired. The first step is to get rid of all the wet and rotted wood so new materials can be patched in.
Replace The Deck
If a rafter is rotted, the damaged wood should be removed so the rot doesn't spread. However, the rafter may not have water damage in other areas, so the roofer will leave it in place and attach a sister board next to it that stabilizes the rafter and that provides support for the new section of plywood. Once the rafter is ready, a section of plywood is placed over it. Plywood decking always has to be laid across a rafter and nailed to it for support.
Apply Underlayment For Water Protection
Once the deck is in place, it is covered with underlayment. Underlayment is a waterproof covering that protects the deck from rain if a shingle starts leaking. When the underlayment is in place, shingles are installed on top of it and the roof repairs are complete. This type of roof repair could help you get more life from the rest of your roof. Instead of replacing the entire roof or one side of the roof, the rotted area can be removed and replaced.
To learn more, contact a roofing company.
