When doing a roof replacement project, there’s a chance that your contractors will propose to remove the existing roofing material and re-sheet it with plywood. This step is known as roof re-sheeting. For those who are unaware of this task, roof re-sheeting is usually done if your home’s roof deck is made with shiplap, a popular roofing material often used 20 years ago and is likely in dire need of replacing by this time. But despite the warnings of their contractors, some homeowners still ask the question of whether or not they really should go through a roof re-sheeting.
In this post, Atlas Construction discusses how you will know if your roofing system needs to be re-sheeted.
Does My Roof Need Re-Sheeting?
If your home was built some time before the 1970s, then the answer to that question is yes. You should give your roof contractors the greenlight to re-sheet your roof. As stated before, homes made before the 1970s were likely to have shiplap as their roof deck, which will be more than 60 years old by now. As time went by, the fir wood resin in that shiplap deck has dissipated, causing the boards to shrink, form knot holes, crack and become brittle. This will prove problematic if your underlayment is applied directly atop that shiplap as it will sag into the spaces and cause leaks.
Failing to replace the shiplap with plywood during the replacement can cause another problem aside from leaks: an unsecured roof. This is because the spaces in the old shiplap won’t let the new roof’s nails to actually sink in, which in turn can leave your new shingles unsecured in the roof. Should this happen, the wind and rain can cause early damage to your new shingles.
It’s understandable if you have worries about removing the shiplap from your roof since it’s a time-consuming job. However, you don’t need to worry too much as removing it isn’t exactly required; you have the option of re-sheeting the new exterior grade plywood directly above the shiplap, which is what most manufacturers recommend for time efficiency and as a less costly option.
Turn to Atlas Construction for your home improvement needs. We are your leading provider of storm damage roof repair and siding installation services. Give us a call at (828) 585-6010, or fill out our contact form to book an appointment.
