If improving your home's livability and resale value interests you, you may consider making improvements to the home's exterior first. Painting the house and garage, repaving the driveway, and putting on a new roof are all ways of revitalizing an old house. There are a lot of choices when it comes to selecting a new roof. To make the right decision, you should know a bit about roof construction.

A roof’s decking, also known as roof sheathing, is one of its most essential structural components. It is the foundation of the roof. It sits underneath the roof as the foundation of your house sits under the home. Decking is made from a variety of different roofing materials. Roofers use wood, metal, and oriented strand boards for decking a roof, however, plywood decking is most common in the Pacific Northwest.

Clear Vision Construction will always use the best roof decking materials for your home. Our trained and licensed roofers know that the deck is a major part of the structural integrity of your home.

Can People See Roof Decking?

You should never be able to see the decking of a roof. It is situated under the roof just like the foundation of the house is under the home. The frame is built first and it is the most important part of the roofing structure. If it is not built properly, you are likely to need roof repair soon after construction.

Photo of Roof The Importance of High-Quality Roof Decking

Roof decking is one of the most important roofing components as it is the load-bearing portion of your roof and provides a flat, stable surface for the entire roofing system to be properly installed on.

Roof decking is just one of the many layers within your roofing system and is situated between the roof's trusses and the leak barrier. If the roof decking is damaged or not properly installed, the roof will be prone to leaks. Roof decking could also be compromised due to poor ventilation within the home and attic. Because roof decking is not visible from the exterior of the structure, it is important to review the attic periodically to determine if there are any signs of deterioration or moisture damage. Clear Vision Construction will calculate the correct intake and exhaust needed for your structure to correct any imbalances in your home's ventilation.

Not only is a solid roof deck needed to prevent moisture intrusion, most local building codes and most roofing manufacturers also require a solid sheathing prior to new roof components being installed.

What Materials Should I Use for My New Roof Deck?

Your Beaverton roofing contractor will be able to advise you on the perfect material to use on your roof sheathing. However, it can be helpful to know the different types of roof decking and the benefits of each.

There are three basic types of roof decks from which you can choose.

Plywood Plywood is the most common material used in the Portland Metro and Vancouver areas to create the deck of a roof due to its strength. It is made up of several layers of wood gelled together with glue. Plywood is made by weaving several sheets of wood together. As the weight is evenly distributed, it can shrink and expand without splitting when nailed.

Plywood is frequently used in roofing as it can work well even when exposed to moisture. This is because its structure gets wet, swells, and then goes back to the original size when it dries.

Oriented Strand Board Overall, oriented strand board (OSB) has been the most common type of roof decking material since the 1970s. OSB is typically the same size and shape as plywood but is made of wood strands that are cut from small logs and are intertwined and held together by a waterproof resin. Because of this, OSB is incredibly strong.

Some roofing contractors like OSB as roof decking because it is cost effective and is easy to handle. It is primarily used in residential homes. However, there are some issues with the water resistance of OSB. It can absorb and retain water in certain vulnerable areas of a roof and is not always the best solution for our Pacific Northwest climate.

Water damage to your home is incredibly expensive. You should take potential repairs into consideration when you are planning what type of decking material you are going to use.

Concrete Concrete is used primarily on commercial structures as the foundation of the roofing system on apartment buildings and office buildings. It is very sturdy and impenetrable when it comes to moisture, however, concrete roof decking is not common on residential homes. This is because of its weight: a structure must be very strong to support the concrete. Most single-family residential structures are not engineered to withstand the weight of a concrete roof decking.

Building owners who are concerned with their impact on the environment will often use this energy efficient material. The more energy efficient a building is, the longer the air conditioning equipment and other appliances will last, which can also lower energy bills and maintenance costs.

How Roof Decks Affect the Overall Structure of Your Home

If a roof deck is not strong and well constructed, it can result in major problems for your whole house. Because it rains a lot in Oregon, it is imperative that your roof system uses the best materials possible and that the roof decking has been installed properly. A poorly constructed deck can cause sagging and rot, which can lead to multiple issues including mold and rodent infestation. If not properly protected by the roofing system, rotten decking can allow water to seep into your home's attic and walls.

Several molds are commonly found in Oregon homes. They can cause everything from allergies to illnesses to property damage. If you are buying homes to flip or rent, remember that you are responsible for keeping the premises habitable. If one of your properties has mold, you could run the risk of a tenant getting sick and additional damages to the home.

Photo of a Builder Working on Roof Roof Decking Cost

Roof decking is not always necessary to replace. Some roof projects may only require a few deck boards be replaced, while other roof projects may need all new roof decking prior to the roof installation. The cost of your roof decking and the roof replacement itself will be affected by several factors including how much of the roof decking needs replacement, the size of your home, and the current cost of materials. Clear Vision Construction is capable of consistently providing high-quality products and services at the lowest costs possible because of our incredible relationship with our shingle manufacturer and suppliers.

Why Hire Us?

Clear Vision Construction employs experienced roofers that are certified and trained to install only the best roofing systems in the Portland Metro and Vancouver areas. We understand the importance of your roof’s integrity. CVC uses GAF Advanced Protection Shingles on the roofs that we install. This is a superior type of roofing shingle and must pass 185 tests for safety, wind resistance, and longevity.

As a GAF Master Elite® Contractor, Clear Vision Construction - a roofing company receives meticulous screening and extensive training from GAF's technical experts to stay current with the latest roofing techniques. Our GAF-certified roofers aren’t just incredibly knowledgeable, but they also exceed industry standards when it comes to the quality of workmanship provided. Less than 2% of roofing contractors in North America can wear the GAF Master Elite® badge. Give us a call today!