Roof Sheathing And Replacement Costs

A roof stripped down to the very basics comprises a frame resting on walls, and a covering over it to complete the building envelope. There are many different types of covering materials available, although their suitability depends on the pitch of the roof and the support work below.

Thatch, for example requires a steep pitch, but only a simple framework to support it. Smaller ‘tiles’ in a wide range of materials however require more complex support work. For this reason, roofers prefer to replace like for like. Shingle ‘tiles’ became a popular form of roof sheathing in the early 20^th century although not all shingles are the same.

How Roof Sheathing Provides Solid Support under Shingles

All overlapping ‘tiles’, of whatever material need a fairly steep pitch to ensure the water flows away. Furthermore, over time the edges can crack and warp admitting moisture into the roof space.

There are various solutions boiling down to under sheeting of some or other kind. Wood sheathing is the preferred solution for shingles because each one needs to be nailed down individually.

Why the Price Difference for Removing Old Sheathing

When we did the job in the ‘before’ picture above, the client was pleased with the price. That was partly because their old shingles were over plywood sheathing which was fairly easy to remove. Clients aren’t always aware how much work is involved in removing solid wood planks. That’s because there are many rusted nails to remove or pound back in.

Oriented strand board (OSB) is a roofer’s delight by comparison. This is engineered board similar in concept to particle board. Except it comprises multiple strips as opposed to particles bonded together. It is so much easier to pull nails out of this, compared to solid timber …

How We Went About the Job in the Pictures

After we stripped away the client’s old plywood sheathing and dealt with the nails, we replaced it with a synthetic underlay over plywood roof sheathing you can see in the second picture. This combination provides a robust result with superior waterproofing / insulating properties.

After securing this, along with ice and water shields along the eaves we added the attractive new architectural shingles you can see in the third picture. The client was delighted as were we with another quality Valiant Exteriors project successfully under our belt.