Roof deck damage dissected

Learn methods of treating and preventing roof deck damage.  

Roof decks, while being a crucial part of your roofing system’s structure, can be difficult to maintain. This is because roof decks sit below the roofing system, making assessment of damages hard. In an episode of the Understanding Roof Restoration podcast, Western Colloid’s Greg Hlavaty and Hal Leland stopped by to share some of their expert tips on evaluating roof decks.  

Greg shared a bit of his personal experience working to detect roof deck problems, sharing, “In the past, [I’ve had] many consultants say, ‘If I can’t see the deck, I won’t write a spec,’” These consultants wanted the roof completely removed to evaluate the deck. However, Greg explains that even if you can’t see the deck “there are definitely ways to find out if you have problems.”  

His first suggestion, for those with plywood decks, is to have a professional walk along the roof and notice if there are any soft or spongy areas, which can form if the roof has been repeatedly exposed to excessive moisture. If these spots cover most of the surface area, your roofing system will need a replacement. A roof replacement is time-consuming and costly, so it is important to take precautions to ensure your roof doesn’t receive too much moisture. 

If you see a low spot on the roof, it will pond water. If this happens, your roof will be subject to water weight, which will also lead to serious deck issues. “We add an extra layer of reinforcement in the waterproofing in those areas,” Hal says. “So, it's not a lot of weight, but it's good insurance for keeping that membrane dry for 10, 15 or 20 years before we have to recoat it again.” 

Metal decks are less likely to run into problems, but they still can. If they are corroding, it can be particularly serious. Corrosion can let water seep through and damage the deck. For the most part, however, it is very rare for metal roofs to receive deck damage.  

Taking the proper steps to prevent deck damage can save you lots of time and money. Consulting experts like Hal and Greg about these issues can give you the insight needed to care for your investment. 

Check out the entire podcast to learn more about maintaining and repairing roof decks.