Regular roof maintenance and prompt repair of trouble spots is the best way to limit more costly decking costs.

Your roof shingles are mounted on wood decking that needs repair or replacement when an ondulation (waves & dips) appears in the roof surface. If the condition is severe; areas of “cups” can occur. Water can accumulate in these cups during the summer; in the winter, ice can accumulate.

The repair process involves sawing out the affected board areas, from rafter to rafter, and installing a new deck board constructed of similar materials.

It’s important for you to know that plywood can be warped by attic humidity, just as water will make a piece of paper warp. For example, you have probably noticed that damp paper has curls or wrinkles after it dries. The same thing happens to plywood if it is subjected to repeated wet/dry cycles over several years.

Plywood sheeting should be at least one-half-inch thick. Some homes constructed in the early '70s had 3/8” plywood or O.S.B. ( oriented strand board) used as the roof sheeting.

When wet or rotted wood decking is not replaced, the potential problems are not limited to leaks. You could also have carpenter ants or termite infestation Some homes require replacement or “sistering” of supporting roof rafters or ridge beams, a necessary step to make the roof structurally sound and restore a more even appearance.

Avenue Road Roofing charges a fixed per-foot rate on roof board replacement. We also tell you the cost of a sheet of decking. In the rare event that the entire roof needs to be rebuilt, a complete quote is provided. It’s also necessary to obtain a permit and drawings to satisfy municipal building departments and make the procedure legal. That’s because roof construction is considered a structural change, not a “repair”.