Replacing rotten timber and roof decking.
A leak that has run for a long time leaves more behind than a stain on the ceiling. The water soaks into the roof decking, and new roofing on rotten timber is of little use.
Four simple steps
Request a quoteMeasuring and inspecting
I come out, measure your roof and look at exactly what it needs.
A keen quote
You get a clear quote with no obligation. No surprises afterwards.
We build your roof
Once you agree, we schedule the work for a time that suits you.
Handed over watertight
The roof is handed over fully watertight, with a 10-year guarantee.
Ceiling still staining after a leak?
Then there is moisture in the timber. Give me a call and I will come and see how far it has spread and what needs replacing.
What this work includes
- Replacing damaged roof decking
- Plywood and underlayment boards
- Repair after water or moisture damage
- Joists and edge timber at the roof edge
- Rot beneath fascia boards and upstands
- Straight on with the new roofing
Timber and roof decking, and what you notice of it
Timber and roof decking
Once the old roofing is off, the substrate comes into view. Timber that is soft or darkly discoloured, plywood boards that sag, a joist rotted away at the roof edge: that comes out and new timber goes in. I work with underlayment or plywood boards, matched to what was there, and fix them to the existing joists. Only once the surface carries again and is dry does the new roofing felt go on.
The signs
After water damage or a leak that has run for months or years. A ceiling that keeps staining, a roof that gives when you stand on it, or a fascia board that feels soft: that is almost always moisture in the timber. It also occurs on roofs that have been overlaid, because a leak under two layers of felt goes unnoticed for a long time.
How I tell whether the timber is still sound
From above you cannot see it. As long as the roofing is on, the timber underneath is hidden and a roof often still feels solid. So I look first at the signs around it: where the damp patch on the ceiling sits, whether the roof springs anywhere, and how the edge timber feels at the roof edge. If in doubt I open a small section to see what lies beneath, and close it up neatly afterwards. That way you know before there is a quote whether timber has to be included or not.
What people ask about this
Not always. If the water was there briefly and the timber can dry, it simply stays. If it is soft, darkly discoloured or sagging, it comes out.
It can, but then new felt lies on a substrate that goes on rotting. The surface will give and the seams come under strain. I will say so honestly if I see it.
A ceiling that keeps staining even after the leak is sealed, a roof that gives when you step on it, or timber at the roof edge that feels soft. Those are the three clearest signs.
What kind of roof is it?
If the damage is in one place, for instance under an outlet or beside a penetration, I replace only that part and join it to the sound timber alongside.
If the water has spread across the full width, everything comes out. That happens on roofs that have run with a small leak for years.
At the roof edge the timber rots first, because water gets in past the head of the trim. This often goes together with new roof edge cladding.
Beneath tiles or a timber deck, moisture lingers. The decking underneath is affected more often than people expect.
Where the flat roof meets the wall, water runs into the timber of the upstand. Replacing a small section is usually enough here.
If roofing has blown off and it has rained since, the timber beneath is saturated in no time. Acting quickly makes the most difference here.
Request a quote for timber and roof decking, no obligation.
Fill in the form or give me a call. I come out, measure it up and tell you what is needed. A 10-year guarantee on watertightness, and you are tied to nothing.
Roof leaks
Tracing the leak is part of the job. Urgent work is scheduled as soon as possible.
Roof renovation
Due for replacement? I measure up, assess it and tell you honestly whether a repair will still do.
Roof edges and fascia
Where nearly all wind damage begins: aluminium roof trim and new upstands.