You’re already dealing with a roof project, and then your roofer gives you one more thing to worry about: they found rotten wood underneath your shingles. At that point, you may be thinking, Seriously? Now there’s rotten wood too?
It’s frustrating when you’re expecting one roofing problem to be addressed and another one suddenly gets added to the job. You may be wondering how much more work is involved, whether the repair will take longer, and what exactly the roofer needs to do before the roofing work can continue.
How Does a Roofer Find Rotten Wood?
Rotten wood under your shingles usually isn’t something you can see from the ground. The shingles cover the wood underneath, so unless the roof deck is already exposed or the damage has become visible somewhere else, you may have no idea there’s a problem.
Once the shingles and other roofing materials are removed, the wood underneath is exposed and the roofer can see its condition. That wood, also called the roof deck or decking, is the surface your roofing system is installed over. You can learn more about what roof decking does and why it matters in our guide to roof decking.
What Does Rotten Roof Decking Actually Look Like?
Wood rot doesn’t always look the same. Depending on the type of decay, the affected wood can change in color, texture, and strength. Here are some of the ways a roofer may encounter it once the shingles are removed.
Wet Rot
Wet rot develops when wood remains exposed to moisture for an extended period. The affected area may be darker than the surrounding wood and can feel soft or spongy. As the damage progresses, the wood can begin to weaken and break down.
Brown Rot, Sometimes Called Dry Rot
Brown rot can leave wood brown, brittle, cracked, or split as the decay breaks down parts of the wood that help give it strength. Despite the name, dry rot doesn’t develop without moisture. The wood may simply be dry by the time the damage is discovered.
White Rot
White rot can leave affected wood lighter or bleached in appearance and may give it a soft, fibrous texture. As the decay progresses, the wood can gradually lose its firmness and strength.
You don’t need to determine which type of rot is present yourself. For the roofing project, what matters most is the condition of the wood and how far the deterioration extends.
What Happens When Rotten Wood Is Found?
Once the shingles and other roofing materials are removed, the roofer can see the wood underneath and determine which areas are still in good condition and which ones have been damaged. If a section of roof decking is too deteriorated to remain in place, that section is cut out and removed. The opening is then measured, and a new piece of decking, such as plywood or OSB, is cut to fit and securely attached to the framing underneath. The material used depends on the existing roof and what is appropriate for the repair.
After the damaged wood has been replaced, the roofing work can continue over the repaired area. Texas Department of Insurance guidance recommends replacing damaged or deteriorated decking before a new roof covering is installed. How much needs to be replaced depends on what the roofer finds once the roof is open. A few damaged sections may be all that’s needed, while more widespread deterioration can mean more work.
Does Rotten Wood Mean You Need a Whole New Roof?
Not necessarily. Finding rotten wood under your shingles does not automatically mean the entire roof needs to be replaced. The bigger question is how much of the decking has been damaged and where that damage is located.
If the roofer finds a small number of isolated sections, those pieces can typically be removed and replaced without replacing the rest of the roof decking. But if they uncover deterioration across a larger portion of the roof, the amount of work can change significantly. The roofer also needs to pay attention to what is underneath the decking. If the damage has reached the roof framing, that goes beyond simply replacing a piece of decking and needs a closer evaluation.
This is why the amount of damage can matter so much to the project. A few replacement pieces may add some material and labor, while extensive deterioration can add considerably more work and time. In some cases, the full extent of the damage may not be clear until the roof has been opened and the affected areas can be inspected.
If this is happening during an insurance-covered roof replacement, the additional work can also raise a separate question: is the damaged decking part of the covered loss? That depends on the policy, the cause of the damage, and what the insurance company determines is covered. The important thing is to understand what was found and what work is actually needed before assuming that a finding of rotten wood means you need an entirely new scope of work.
Found Rotten Wood? Here’s What Matters
Finding rotten wood can be an unwelcome surprise during a roofing project, but the discovery itself doesn’t tell you how big the problem is. Once the roof is opened up, the important thing is understanding how much of the decking is affected and what needs to be replaced before the new roof goes on.
If you’re not sure what the damage means for your roof, AMP Roofing & Exteriors can help. We can inspect the affected areas, explain what we find, and help you understand what needs to happen next. We serve homeowners throughout Austin, San Marcos, Manor, Pflugerville, and surrounding Central Texas communities.