Wood Rot: What Should I do?

By Dymon Brady

Sometimes even roofing contractors are surprised by something under the surface of a job. Recently, we had an interesting and unexpected problem on a re-roof job. We removed the top layer of shingles of a residential pitched roof and realized that there was a much bigger issue underneath.

The previous owners of the home had experienced some wood rot on their roof, around 40 years ago. Instead of fixing the rot and replacing the wood, they had decided to lay a ½” plywood over the rot and shingle over the top. The new owners had bought the home and were unaware of this hidden rot.

Not only did this create a very dangerous situation, but the problem had compounded so dramatically that much of the framing and insulation needed to be replaced.

Rather than going over the top, we felt it was important to address the problem properly. We took off the rotted members and replaced them with new insulation and framing. If we had not done this now, the roof would have only lasted 5-10 years. Now it will last anywhere from 30 to 40 years.

If your roofing contractor is surprised with something that wasn’t visible when the project began, it will be worth it to put a little more into resolving it then and there! Here at Brady Roofing, we pride ourselves in making sure that each job is done right.