The roofing material can be anything from wood shake to asphalt tiles, affecting the overall design and style of your home.
You can add value to your home by updating your roof. It will also communicate the home’s style and feel. Roof framing, preparation, and proper installation are all important but what material should you choose to roof your home?
The building process includes roofing. Properly laying wood planks and sheets to create the roof structure is essential. Roof stability can be achieved with careful planning and orchestration. Layers of work must be done before roof tiles can be placed as the top covering on a structure. This included the building of the roof foundation. The frame is made up of pillars, beams, and rafters.
The rafters are a wood material that is integral to finishing decking. Before tiles and underlayment can be applied, the decking or sheathing must be laid. The type of wood used for decking will determine the type of tiles. It takes clever engineering to create a strong roof deck as tile materials come in different weights.
Which wood type is best for roofing?
- OSB or Oriented Strand Board. OSB was invented in 1963 by Armin Elmendorf in California. This is made up of layers and strands, which are then joined together to make a board and are the most affordable board for roof decking. The strands are compressed, bonded, and waxed to form a plywood-like structure. It is preferred for non-heavy tiles and can also be placed side-by-side and locked with tongue and groove. However, OSB panels are susceptible to puncture due to their stranded nature.
- Plywood. Unlike the OSB, the plywood’s grains are placed alternately. Plywood is composed of layers of thin wood. Sometimes, it can be made up of 3-4 layers. Plywood is available in different thicknesses and can be made in sheets which are a practical way to cover roofs. They are flexible, can withstand pressure, and are puncture-proof compared to OSB. Because of its affordability and ease of installation, plywood is more popular than OSB.
Consider the following when deciding on the thickness of plywood to be used for roofing decking:
- Weight of materials to be used including the underlayment
- Rafters spacing
- The climate in an area
- Pitch or slope of the roof
3. Wood boards. Wood board made from lumber can be used to deck. The boards are placed on top of each other and connect to the same rafter. In order to avoid wood boards buckling or giving way due to pressure, nails should be used to fasten them.
Obtaining roof deck stability
The base is what determines the stability of the roof deck. A roofing system conforms to local building codes by being the right thickness, grade, or wood type. Roofers Birmingham has the expertise to help you understand local laws and regulations regarding roofs.
These are the qualities that make a roof deck reliable:
- High resistance to impact (weight of tiles and loads, weather elements, builders, etc.)
- It can consistently hold ice and heavy snow
- Resilient to winds and storms
- It is effective along with the expected life span of the roof
How to avoid roof deck issues
Roof decking problems can’t be avoided, but they can be minimized. Roof damage is primarily caused by moisture absorption. This is the root cause of roof failure. The panels will begin to swell if moisture gets under the wood surface. The only way to prevent moisture buildup is to ensure deck installation stops wood movement and avoids buckling. This will ensure that moisture cannot enter the roof tiles and underlayment.
Additional tip: install the underlayment immediately to keep the wood panels dry. Decks that are not covered by the weather for too long will be more susceptible to heat and rain.
The type of wood that you require for your roof will depend on the materials you choose, the location, the weather, and any building codes. Contact your trusted roofing contractor for more information!