Your roof is more than just your asphalt shingles. It is a complicated system with many parts that work together to protect your home from the weather. Understanding the various parts of your roof will help you take care of it better and allow you to more easily communicate with your roofing contractor.
What Is Roof Decking?
The roof decking is one of the most important parts of your roofing system. Your roof’s basic structure is made up of joists and trusses. These things act as a frame with lots of empty spaces in between. The roof decking is a flat surface that’s attached to the trusses and joists. It adds an extra layer of protection between your roof and the rest of your house, and it provides a surface for the underlayment and asphalt shingles.
Kinds of Roof Decking
There are many different kinds of decking solutions for roofing systems. Plywood sheathing has sheets that are usually four feet by eight feet long. Plywood is made from mature trees, and it is rigid and moisture resistant. However, knots in the wood can cause a lack of uniformity. Step sheathing has boards that run perpendicular, and it has spaces between the planks This decking is used when installing cedar sheathing. Tongue and groove is most often seen in homes that don’t have a ceiling.
Plank sheathing uses planks that are spaced about 1 1/2 inches apart. Shingles are then placed on top of these planks in layers. This is an old decking solution so you will usually see it on homes that were built prior to 1970. Oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing is the most common type of roof decking used today. OSB is made by interweaving wood strands and then bonding these strands together. OSB is rigid and moisture resistant, and uniform throughout.
Willi Roofing Services can help you with all of your roofing needs. We have many years of experience, and we are one of the few GAF Master Elite® roofing contractors in the country. Earning this certification is so difficult that only the top 2% of all roofing companies can make it. When you work with us, you will be working with one of the best roofers in the industry. We serve many areas, including Round Rock, TX. Call us at (512) 394-8234 to learn more about our services and products or to get a free estimate.
