A roofing system is made up of various components that work together to make it a protective barrier for your home against the elements. There are the shingles, which are the outer layer of your roof; the underlayment, which protects the overall structure beneath the shingles from moisture damage; and the flashing, which helps prevent leaks in the first place. While all of these are important parts of your roof, there is another component about which you shouldn’t forget: the roof deck.
As stated before, the roof deck is an integral part of the roof and is composed of the joists and trusses, which support the roof and evenly distribute its weight. Attached to these trusses and joists are the weatherproofing materials that protect your home from the elements.
The Different Kinds of Roof Decks
Whenever homeowners hear the term roof deck, most automatically assume that there’s only one kind. According to residential roofing services, however, there are actually numerous kinds of roof decks. The first is plank sheathing, an older decking solution popular in the 1970s, where the planks are spaced 1 ½ inches apart, and wood shingles are placed on top in layers. On the other hand, if your home doesn’t have a ceiling, a tongue and groove roof deck can add an architectural element to your rafters.
Apart from the aforementioned types of roof decks, there is also the step sheathing, plywood sheathing and oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing.
Do I Need to Replace My Deck When Replacing the Roof?
At times, some homeowners think that replacing your roofing shingles means that you’ll also need to replace the roof deck. This isn’t necessarily the case; you can actually replace your shingles without having the deck replaced as well. To determine if your roof deck requires a replacement, be sure to have a professional inspect the deck once the shingles are removed. If the person declares that your deck must be replaced before the new shingles are installed, follow the advice, and get the replacement done immediately.
Need a pro roofer to do some work on your home? Simply turn to Renovation Team, your leading service provider for exterior siding installation and roofing projects. Give us a call at (636) 939-1061, or fill out our contact form to request a FREE quote. We serve homeowners in St. Louis, MO, and other nearby areas.