Plywood can get wet over short periods of time, and be dried out and still maintain its strength and finish. When planning to redo your roof or repair some damages, you might come across different grades and types of wood, such as OSB and CDX and start wondering what those abbreviations mean. Only one piece near the front corner looks bad (starting to delaminate) and the rest looks okay at the moment. If it starts to rain or drizzle, the roofers should act quickly to cover your OSB – most likely with a tarp. Some Marine plywoods are guaranteed for 15-25 years but will depend on your use and location. The plywood is NOT rotted. The airflow was obstructed from the soffit vents to the ridge vent by too much insulation and no baffling. 1; 2; 3; Next. Contact us directly at (303) 443-5843. We have lots more on the site to show you. That said, there are many instances where the rain is unavoidable and unpredictable. Marine Ply is bonded with waterproof glue, although it is a combination of this glue and the hardwood that makes it much more resilient in the wet. With any excess water on wooden products, you will notice dark stains throughout the sheets. You may have heard of roof decking but have no idea what it is or why it is as important as it is to your roof. From building homes to creating decks to crafting particular items, plywood is relatively inexpensive, durable, and comes in different types that are flexible for your needs. Could the roof actually stay wet all that long since the venting … If it’s been raining, time is the only way to ensure damage control is met. 2x6 rafters no overhang therefore no soffit or venting. The minimum thickness of plywood used for roofing is 3/8 th of an inch. The warranty will usually vary by roofing type such as asphalt shingles, metal, tile, or shake and usually ranges from 25 to 50 years. Consider meeting with a roofing contractor prior to hiring as they should be able to explain various building codes in your area and disclose tactics to avoid roofing in the rain. Metsä Wood Spruce plywood is the perfect roofing plywood. Although extensive rain periods can be problematic if you see the plywood edges start to de-laminate. I used 5/8″ tongue and groove nailed for the roof. If you must return wood surfaces to immaculate, pristine … Overall, plywood is a little bit better for roofing. FAX: 303.938.9642, © Copyright 2021 B and M Roofing | All Rights Reserved | Website Design By OTM, The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress, meeting with a roofing contractor prior to hiring, warranty will usually vary by roofing type, Installing roof material over wet or wrinkled barrier (decking) is against roofing code in most areas, Shingles will not adhere properly to wet roof decking like OSB, Keeping water trapped in roof decking can cause the roof to eventually swell or buckle, Trapped moisture can cause mold and mildew growth, Dry properly, especially if it’s swelling. An experienced roofer can help you pick out the right one, but it’s good for you to know what these options are. Framing or structural plywood that has an A grade glue bond will stand up to quite a lot of moisture before it is affected. Reputable roofers across Colorado usually provide their due diligence when it comes to assessing and scheduling a new roofing job. When plywood gets wet, it swells evenly across the plywood sheet, and then when it dries out it goes back to the normal sizing. Steps should be taken to protect existing materials and completed work. It's 5/8" CDX. This often happens when plywood is stored outside for short periods of time before a project begins. HomeFix column by Dwight Barnett advises a reader that his roof problem is likely the result of installing shingles over wet plywood. First, they should make every attempt to cover the roof decking and other exposed materials. So we have discovered what plywood is, and in most cases, your plywood will be fine to use with a medium after amount of water. It also uses waterproof glue but excessive amounts of water over time can lead to its demise. I thought I would share my experience and how I managed to save those sheets. The client claimed the underside of the roof deck was wet. If you are just leaving your plywood dry out without the use of a fan or heater, then it could take a couple of weeks to dry out. When used as a roof sheathing, this tendency to hold moisture means it can degrade faster than plywood when exposed to chronic leaks. Source. In general, the ideal weather conditions for roofing are clear, warm days. Commonly made of spruce, pine, cedar, redwood, fir, or Douglas fir, softwood plywood is used for industrial and construction purposes for roof sheathing, sub-flooring, and exterior frames. I. ianphilip007-Apr 25, 2012 #1 Welcome to ElectriciansForums.net - The American Electrical Advice Forum Head straight to the main forums to chat by click here: American Electrical Advice Forum. Rain can be extremely unforgiving, but the good news is, it won’t last forever. A: It is never a good idea to install a roof over wet plywood or any type of roof sheathing. Here I will let you know the steps to take in order to dry your plywood out completely. These layers help give the material its strength, and ensure that it remains stable enough to be used for many different purposes, from creating a roof deck to building cabinets. Timber Grain also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. This will ensure that the strength of the plywood is enough to bridge spots on the roof where the old plywood was weakened to the point that it would sag under the load on the roof. Excessive indoor humidity can cause blistering and peeling paint, warping and rotting wood, as well as the formation of mildew & mold. … Avoid bad workmanship at all costs! In an age of immediate online content, sometimes useful resources get overlooked. An untrustworthy contractor may tell you that it’s okay to install shingles on a wet surface in order to get the job done quickly. Lastly it would be … The 10 Best “How-To” Books For Woodworking Beginners. While roofing services should avoid severe rainstorms, experienced roofers should have temporary fixes when a rainy day is unavoidable. What other impacts does roofing in the rain carry? As we explained earlier, that installing shingles over a wet roof will invalidate any warranty you might be given from the shingle manufacturer. OSB vs Plywood Screw Holding What we need to do here is encourage that water out and make it evaporate. Because the weather in the Centennial State can be volatile, preparation is key. It seems to be on the northern exposure only. Furthermore, sanding a roof deck is almost impossible because of the interference from protruding nails. In this case, your plywood may be ruined and you might have to use it on parts that don’t require visual perfection. Even though it isn’t visible, it is very important to the structure of your home. And boy was it. I use plywood in my workshop quite a lot for making jigs and some furniture. I'm doing a lot of the work myself, help from a metal roofer with other skills. You've only seen one page. Here are the steps I take to get a good seal and a nice finish on plywood: In nearly all houses that get built, plywood is one product that is used extensively as either wall bracing or flooring in double-story dwellings. A whole house fan mounted on the gable end with Louvers closed. Typically, softwood plywood is not suggested for outdoor use. Considering the various issues that can occur, it’s worth it to take time to evaluate weather conditions and assess the time of year to consider a roof replacement. Chances are, the shingles on your roof were attached on top of a plywood base. The next thing to look for is warping or cupping. In some cases, you may not be able to sand it out. The house is a quasi split level built probably back In the 50s. But like all wood, each layer of the plywood can absorb moisture, whether from direct contact or through … More often than not, this plywood will get rained on before the roof is on which begs the question, can plywood get wet during construction? If you are going to cut your sheet up into small parts then you may be lucky and be able to cut most of this out. Think twice before you hire roofers that appear to be in a rush. Rainstorms can cause water damage to the roof decking. Can You Roof Over Wet Plywood? The type of plywood you have can also affect the rate at which the water will absorb. Sometimes referred to as roof sheathing or a roof deck, this plywood acts as a foundation for the layers of underlay and the shingles on your roof and connects the roof to the frame of the house. hi bit of a strange one … There is a fairly new roof on it with continuous ridge venting. Timber Grain is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. One disadvantage is that most plywood is not waterproof. The drying out period is relatively short, which means that it doesn’t affect the roofing. Post pics... you may have no problem and it may be … Valuable books on beginner woodworking exist for every skill level. It normally gets plenty of sunny days to dry out so this plywood getting wet is not too much of an issue. While the glue is mostly waterproof, excess rain can cause the glue to fail. Zipwall is a great improvement of OSB. However, a manufacturer does not guarantee the product warranty unless the roofing contractor adheres to set guidelines. This is a new one on me. It is an ideal sheathing panel in both visible and non-visible roof constructions. While there are certain types that are water-resistant such as marine plywood… The plywood is nailed to the roof rafters, and unless the builder used a tongue-and-groove plywood or "H" clips, the long edge can warp in between each rafter. A tear-off and replacement of fiberglass shingles was performed on this roof about 6 months ago. During extreme cold temperatures, frost can build up on the underside of the roof sheeting (attic roof). When to Replace Plywood on Your Roof. This is why plywood is considered as the better option for roofing. A reputable company will provide details for both: Manufacturer warranties will guarantee the durability of the roofing material you’ve selected for your home. It normally gets plenty of sunny days to dry out so this plywood getting wet is not too much of an issue. Plywood is an excellent material that is used in different types of construction. Plywood has a slight advantage with stiffness. AdvanTech – Worth The Cost . If however your plywood has sat outside in the rain for a couple of days, the chances of it being any good are slim. The felt, if it is wet when the shingles are applied, will invariably bulge and crease if not outright tear under the workers feet (or bulge/crease just by being wet in many cases) which can also reflect through to the shingle surface as bulges and waves. Even with advancements in weather tracking and our daily consumption of weather forecasts, there’s no guarantee a rainstorm won’t strike. To discover how I saved my plywood sheets, keep reading the information I have put together. What makes this product really amazing is its resistance to water. Timber Grain is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies, link to The 10 Best “How-To” Books For Woodworking Beginners, link to 9 Essential Tips For Screwing Into MDF. Decking should be in place before other roof materials can be applied. 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