Roof Decking Replacement in Hudson, WI
Roof decking needs replacing on a Hudson home when the boards or sheets under the shingles have gone soft, rotted or delaminated, usually from years of leaks, ice dams or a damp attic. Hudson Roofing Pros replaces bad decking during a reroof so the new roof is fastened to sound wood.
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- Since 2016
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When Does a Hudson Roof Need New Decking?
A Hudson roof needs new decking when the plywood, OSB or boards that the shingles are nailed to have softened, rotted or come apart, so they no longer hold nails or carry weight. Wisconsin does not allow a new roof over one that is water-soaked or has deteriorated too far to be a base, and rotten decking is the most common reason a roof falls into that category.
Most decking damage starts with water that has been getting in for a long time. Ice dams push meltwater under the shingles at the eaves, a leaking chimney or vent soaks the boards around it, and warm, moist air from the house condenses on the underside of the deck in a poorly vented attic. Condensation in the attic can rot the decking and the framing, and a moving deck makes shingles buckle.
Soft spot underfoot?
The deck may be rotting
A roof that gives when walked on usually has wet or rotted decking under the shingles.
Signs the Decking Under Your Hudson Roof Is Failing
The decking under a Hudson roof is failing when the roof sags or feels soft, the shingles ripple or buckle, or the attic shows stained, dark or crumbling wood. Some of these you can see from the yard, and the rest show up from inside the attic with a flashlight.
Sagging Between Rafters
A dip between the rafters, seen along the roofline from the street, often means the sheets have softened.
Buckled or Rippled Shingles
Shingles that wave or lift can be sitting on decking that has moved.
Stains and Mold in the Attic
Dark stains, mold or frost on the underside of the deck point to leaks or poor ventilation.
Light Through the Boards
Daylight through the deck from the attic means gaps or rot right through the wood.
Think the decking under your Hudson roof has gone soft?
Tell us what you have noticed and we will inspect the roof and attic.
How We Replace Roof Decking
We replace roof decking after the old roofing is torn off, cutting out every soft or rotted section and fastening new sheathing to the rafters before the underlayment goes on. Tear-off is the only time the whole deck can be seen, so we check every board then, and Garrett Olson oversees the work.
- 1
Tear Off the Old Roof
The shingles and underlayment come off so the full deck is exposed.
- 2
Check Every Board
We walk and probe the deck to find soft, rotted or delaminated wood.
- 3
Cut Out and Replace
Bad sections are cut back to the rafters and replaced with new sheathing, nailed to the framing.
- 4
Fix the Cause
We look for what rotted the deck, such as poor attic venting or a leaking chimney, and fix it as part of the new roof.
- 5
Build the New Roof
Ice barrier, underlayment and the new roofing go on over a sound deck.
Older roofs need extra care here. A cedar shake roof or a slate roof is always torn off before a new roof goes on in Wisconsin, and the deck under it is checked the same way.
What Does Roof Decking Replacement Cost in Hudson?
Decking and dry-rot repair during a roof replacement costs about $500 to $1,000 as a Wisconsin figure, not a quote, and full decking replacement runs about $2 to $8 per sq ft as a national figure. How much you pay depends on how much of the deck is bad, which is only known once the old roof is off.
Because of that, a written roof estimate should say how decking found during tear-off will be priced, so you know before the job starts what a few bad sheets or a whole slope would add.
Roof decking repair and replacement
Ranges, not quotes. We price your roof in writing after inspecting it.
Want a written price for your roof and its decking?
We inspect the roof and attic and put the replacement and decking price on paper.
How Do We Keep New Decking From Rotting?
We keep new decking from rotting by stopping the water and moisture that ruined the old deck, which means sealing the eaves against ice dams, flashing every opening, and venting the attic. Wisconsin requires attic design that prevents damage from condensation and ice damming, with a minimum net vent area of 1/300 of the ceiling area when more than half but less than three quarters of the vent area is high on the roof, or 1/150 when three quarters or more of it is.
At the eaves, shingle roofs over heated space with a slope of 4:12 or less need ice dam protection running at least 30 inches up from the roof edge and at least 12 inches past the inside face of the exterior wall. Our roof ventilation and underlayment work covers the venting, and attic insulation and air sealing stops the warm, moist air that starts the problem.
Who Can Replace Roof Decking in Wisconsin?
A contractor holding Wisconsin's Dwelling Contractor certification, with a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, can replace Roof Decking in Wisconsin, because that is the credential the state requires of anyone who pulls a building permit for work on a one- or two-family home, and Wisconsin has no roofing-specific license. Hudson Roofing Pros does this work as part of our roof replacement jobs, and you should ask any contractor for proof of the credential and of insurance when booking.
In the City of Hudson, a reroof needs no building permit when there are no structural changes or repairs, while structural repairs do. In other towns we confirm the permit rules with the local building inspector before work starts.
Roof Decking Replacement FAQs
How Do I Know if My Roof Decking Is Bad?
Your roof decking is likely bad if the roof sags between rafters, feels soft underfoot, or the attic shows dark stains, mold or crumbling wood. The full extent is only known once the old roofing is torn off.
Can You Put New Shingles Over Rotted Decking?
No, a new roof cannot go over rotted decking. Wisconsin does not allow new roofing over a roof that is water-soaked or too deteriorated to be a base, and nails will not hold in rotten wood.
Does All the Decking Have to Be Replaced?
No, usually only the soft or rotted sections are replaced, and sound sheathing stays. A roof with widespread damage may need a whole slope or more redecked.
What Causes Roof Decking to Rot?
Roof decking rots from water that sits in it for a long time, usually from leaks, ice dams at the eaves or condensation in a poorly vented attic.
Get a roof decking estimate
Send the form or call us about the soft spots or sagging on your roof, and we will inspect it and price the decking and roof replacement in writing.
Call now (651) 691-2168 Open 24 hours, 7 days a week