Some issues with your roof are obvious, while others can't be fully assessed until the old roof shingles are torn off. The following are some hidden damages that may impact your roof replacement. The good news is that all of these issues can be repaired.
1. Rotten Decking
Plywood decking sheets lie beneath the shingles, so they are usually kept dry and damage-free. If your shingles were failing, though, moisture may have seeped beneath and the decking could be rotting. Your roofer may suspect decking issues during the initial inspection, but it's not possible to know the extent of the damage until the shingles are removed.
2. Ventilation Problems
Roofs have vents in the soffits, which are under the eaves, and along the ridge. There may also be gable end vents and vents on the main roof plane, depending on the style and shape of your roof. Sometimes vents are damaged in ways that aren't visible until after the shingles are torn off. Damage to the vent itself, or signs of leaking and condensation underneath the shingles, may mean it's time to replace the vents.
3. Flashing Leaks
Metal or vinyl flashing is installed around chimneys and mid-roof attic vents, and rubber flashing boots are placed around round penetrations like plumbing vent stacks. Flashing can last longer than roofing shingles, so it is not automatically included in roof replacement quotes. Although your roofer will look for visible damages during the initial inspection, problems with the portion of the flashing that sits beneath the shingles may not be found until replacement begins.
4. Eave Damages
Damage on the exterior soffits and fascia boards that make up the eaves is easy to spot during the initial inspection and quote, but damage inside the eaves may not be apparent until roof replacement is underway. The most common problem is rot in old wooden eaves. Rot occurs when moisture somehow gets trapped in the eaves, perhaps via a leak at the roof's drip edge or through a faulty soffit vent. Rotten wood eaves can be replaced with rot-proof vinyl eaves.
5. Code Updates
If it's been a while since your last roof installation, there may be changes to the building code or safety regulations to consider. For example, it may be time to update the wind strapping that is used to protect your roof in the event of wind storms or hurricanes. Your contractor will check components such as these after the initial teardown so that any updates can be made before replacement proceeds.
Contact a roof replacement to learn more.