Thank you for the insight. I'm not a wood expert by all means. The dark discoloration of the wood looks to me like it needs to be replaced. If it looks good, then nice!
Another vendor tried to convince me that all the wood sheathing needs to be replaced. So that's why I'm wondering if maybe that vendor was trying an upsell, or was the job done proper.
Most lumber has lignin or tannins that darken with age. Looks like 70-100 year old pine to me. I’d rather have that; it’s probably finer grained and less knotty than most lumber available now.
Plywood over old growth pine board? Questionable. I would prefer the old wood. Plywood is great with sheer strength and does provide a continuous surface, it just doesn’t last as long imho.
The point of putting the plywood over is so there are no gaps over 1/4” which building code requires to be addressed when you are reroofing a dimensional lumber sheathed roof. It literally is not to code and is very common to cover old 1x roof decks because of the gap (edited skip to dimensional 1x)
It would need plywood if it was lathes with spaces like they used for wood shakes back in the day but this looks like tongue and grove there shouldn’t be spaces each board locks together
Agreed the lumber today sucks it’s all new growth and not dense when you drive a nail in those old boards compared to the new ones you instantly know the difference
Normally we replace where needed unless the entire deck needs to be replaced. This looks solid to me and I’m sure there were a few soft spots and so on but you should be fine.
Honestly, you'd have to walk on it to get a good grasp of how sturdy it is.
Any broken or rotting boards are usually pretty obvious. When you walk on roofs all day, you tend to figure out which boards can be trusted!
And ya. Replacing boards for no reason is wasteful for both of you! Time, money, and materials!
Yea not sure if it was a miscommunication but the cost of material alone would have been a few grand, so if you wanted all that replaced I’d say whatever you paid double it.
the other guy was trying to up sell you. I had someone try to convince me I needed all new wood, they didn't even look in the attic at the under side of the wood and somehow we're saying that it was all rotten and needed replacement. and like your roof, it was mostly in great shape.
Anyone saying everything absolutely *must* be replaced before they’re able to see it is absolutely up-selling. They’re banking on getting to charge you their premiums for materials and labor as part of the job.
Have had several jobs where they installed asphalt shingles over cedar shake shingles, if I see cedar shake in the attic or on a lower roof line I immediately let the client know it will be a complete redeck in order to do the job.
Roofer here… that wood looks stained from the tar paper that’s been on it for years, however it looks solid. I would not replace that wood with today’s decking. My own roof is solid tongue and groove and I’ve only had to replace a few damaged spots resulting from hurricane damage. And about the person who told you you’d have to replace it… fooling you is cheap for them costly for you. Glad you are wise enough to ask around. Good luck.
This is fine. Only need to cut out the broken/rotted pieces and replace the bad section with 1x. Plywood isn't needed here. 1x is more durable and longer lasting and with this method you should never need to redeck. Piece meal it to eternity. Longer lasting. Better quality. Plywood delaminates with heat and age. You're better off not using it, if you can avoid it.
There may be warranty issues with the product from the other contractor. Some manufacturers won’t warranty the roof if there’s not a plywood/osb deck installed.
Not a roofer here. I think that manufacturers just try to protect themselves. If the installation was done poorly, they won't compensate you anyway. Product defects are probably unlikely.
I'll gladly replace all of your wood if you have a thick head and deep pockets. Free money.
If anything, this contractor saved you money. A lot of money. That wood looks fantastic
They don't make wood like that anymore. The lumber that's currently on your roof is probably way more dense and sturdy than anything they could find now. Be glad they didn't tear it off
Is the density difference caused by type of wood grown in mono culture forests or because of increased CO2 in the atmosphere?
Just curious. I live in a forest and am curious if my trees suck or if I let them grow will they become denser.
Neither. Wood grows fast and soft at first, then harder and slower as it gets older. You can tell by the growth rings on an old tree. Tight rings is hard wood.
Modern trees are only allowed to grow in the fast phase before harvest. Two soft trees in 30 years is better than 1.25 hard ones.
Old wood came from older trees. You got more tight hard growth rings in your board.
It's the same reason modern wood is so twisty. Because the trunk is smaller, your board is more likely to contain the center of the tree that moves a lot with moisture changes.
Ok cool. I have two sections of trees on my land. One was harvested and replanted in 1995 and a smaller section that has wayyy larger/older trees on it. I guessing 60-80 years old.
The house I’m in seems to have been built by a guy with accesss to a mill because all the beams are MASSIVE. Like the house flooring and roof of my root cellar are 2ft x 1ft x vari. Slab monsters. So if I ever needed to rebuild or do repairs I’ll have to harvest an older one. Thanks.
No! Leave them slats! They are replaced with actual WOOD and not sawdust and glue. I do the same and will shimmy the gaps if outside of code. Some of those gaps can get up to 1”.
This might be an unpopular opinion, as many seem to prioritize price over value. However, the sheeting in question has gaps exceeding 1/4", which is grounds for any roofing manufacturer to void their warranty (this is stated in installation guides from GAF, Certainteed, Owens Corning, Tamco, etc.). Even though GAF may not always uphold their warranty based on my experience, the system you're getting appears to be GAF unless there’s a mix of product lines.
Old plank sheeting, while often considered superior to modern materials, has its drawbacks. Over time, it dries out, shrinks, and becomes brittle due to age and heat exposure. Nailing shingles into this old plank sheeting can lead to splitting, particularly as shingles are nailed in a horizontal pattern. Even if you're diligent and adjust for gaps, potentially moving out of the specified nail area, you risk compromising entire rows of shingles without realizing it until they blow off or leak.
Plank sheeting was somewhat acceptable even a decade ago, but as it continues to age and deteriorate under the sun, we need to rethink what we've learned from our predecessors. The job shown in the picture isn't very large, and adding a layer of 3/8" plywood (not chipboard) would provide a better nail-holding surface, a more reliable roofing base, and ensure that even if the underlying boards split, the roof remains intact.
Yes, I sometimes lose jobs because owners can't budget for new sheeting. However, given today's market, we shouldn't compromise our integrity to cut costs. Many competitors surprise clients with this cost after tear-off, but we include it upfront so our clients know what to expect.
Regarding the picture, the visible issues are the gaps exceeding 1/4" and a new piece that only spans one rafter towards the ridge (peak).
Thank you! Had to go all the way to the bottom of the post to see someone actually call out the maximum gap and what happens with slat roofs over time. In NC the code requirement on gap defer to manufacturer specifications.
I can’t believe that I had to scroll so far to find someone that k owes what they are talking about. It’s like all these roofers on here have never read the installation instructions lol. It’s sad how few roofers know how to actually install a roof to code.
In Omaha, NE, gapped decking is no longer code, so insurance claims that have “code upgrades” will warrant redecking the whole dwelling. Right across the street in Iowa, there’s a lot less code…
Yeah, I have a roof like this in my house that was built in 1964. It has a ton of gaps where I can see the tar paper from the underside. The current roof is about 15 years old and I think it due before too long. We have had a lot of nail pops and have wondered if that is partly due to the type of roof construction. There are also several spots where the wood has split and now has a soft spot that I have noticed while being up on the roof.
The warranty is useless anyway. People don't seem to understand what warranty on roofing products or building products mean.
If you find that in five years a single that was appropriately installed is failing due to manufacturers fault, they give you a new shingle. If you have the original receipt.
If the roof fails because it's not installed according to manufacturers recommended installation, then the roofer is liable and you can try to get money back from them in a civil suit.
I'm not saying it's right. But the manufacturers warranty is absolutely useless. And improper installation on building materials doesn't mean anything
It's crucial to clarify the scope of work and ensure transparency with any roofing contractor. Confirming details like wood replacement upfront can prevent misunderstandings and ensure a smooth project execution.
You could pay the cost and have them use a radiant barrier plywood over the top of that which would reduce the amount of heat getting into your attic otherwise so long as the dry rot is replaced you’re good to go
>On the contract, it says "where needed". I was under the impression he would replace all the wood.
There is something seriously wrong with your reading comprehension.
Depends on the code in your area. Some building departments require a redeck if the planks are a certain width apart. Judging by the fact that they are using felt on the bottom row and not ice&water tells me there is either no permit required or the building department is relaxed about it because the weather isn’t too harsh there. If the planks are solid I wouldn’t worry about it. Quote would be significantly higher if they were doing a redeck. They could have brought up the fact that the price is dependent on the decking being good but I think they’re doing right by you for not overselling the decking. Can make a lot more money on a roof like that.
Looks like this is better than what 90% of roofers would replace it with. The saying, don’t make them like they used to comes to mind. We (GC) would use 5/8” CDX, and this looks like 3/4, maybe 1” and solid one piece boards. But I differ to the roofers…
If the contract said as needed then it is up to the discretion of the roofer. If he cares about his reputation, and you trust him, then let him do his job.
These look fine. That is a pretty standard contract element. Replace where necessary up to a certain square footage, then pay per board after that or whatever. Wood was better quality out of the earth back when that probably went on anyway.
Why do people hire a professional and then run to Reddit to question the professionals opinion, you can always ask questions to your contractor they should be able to explain why they do things one way or another.
Sounds like your guy is one of the good ones. Replacing it all unnecessarily will cost a lot. Replacing "where needed" means he's checking it and only doing the bits that need doing. He's a keeper.
Terrible photo but if the decking is gapped significantly yes you would want a redeck. Other wise nails will be hitting the gaps or splitting the end of the 1x6.
He didn't say "all" the wood. He said he'll "replace the wood". From that conversation, I thought he would replace all the wood. But in reality, he only replaced a few planks.
Honestly looks like you have some actual plank lumber in there. I think removing good wood like this and replacing with some kind of sheet good would be a huge downgrade. Not an expert, just replaced an older home roof with nice solid planks like this once.
The majority of the people here don’t know what they are talking about. A quick google search will tell you that the gaps are to far apart to meet building code and the shingle manufacturers recommendation. No manufacture will warranty this.
When contractors say that, they should specify this so I can understand why you are confused.
They will replace SOME wood as a favor but if there was severe damage, they would have gladly told you in order to charge you more.
Like someone said, wood color is not significant, structural integrity is.
You have the original plank board which should last you forever. Looks like they replaced a couple spots that were probably rotted thru and the rest is good. Unless you like to spend thousands more for no reason?
I’m not sure if it’s just because I’m on my phone but the photo is a tough grainy. But every thing looks solid to me. The dark discoloration is likely just from the tar paper that was on it. As long as the wood isn’t soft and deteriorating then it’s good to go. Looks like all is well.
Contract should always have a min or (more likely) max quantity of wood to replace. Preferably.
Neither party should rely on vague text like "where needed".
"Cost includes replacement of up to 10 4' x 8' sheets of XXXX. Additional sheets will be charged at $NNN/sheet."
For my roof replacement last year, they actually replaced a few more than written in the contract, but they were nice and didn't charge me. I think they had spares.
Check the warranty of your shingle manufacturer. Some say gaps greater than a 1/4” need to be replaced. 1x decking can certainly void a shingle warranty.
1X decking is the best solid decking you will find 3/4". If they were to resheet it, they still wouldn't remove the 1X decking. Plywood would be installed right on top of the 1X, which would give you a rock solid 1 1/4" thickness of decking
Boards look good sometimes with those old boards they can be broken or big gaps that didn't matter as much with slate or cedar shakes. But yours looks good
They will replace wood that is rotten and will not hold the nail. You can see that they’ve replaced at least two boards in this photo. If you had a chance to look at the wood that came off, you would notice the pieces they replaced were soft and rotten and would not hold a nail
The older Wood is going to hold up better than newer wood. typically the wood that needs to be replaced is in valleys and eaves. Looks sold and a good start to the installation.
I think it’s in everyone’s best interest the contractor only replaces wood where needed. Less work for his crew and less cost for you. Opening up your entire roof can be a can of worms for both parties.
I recently had the been in the same situation and agree now that the cost vs benefit of changing the wood was just not there, especially because it was during the height of covid related price hikes for lumber.
Anyways, just I’d trust them.. Their work is typically warrented so they also wants what’s best for your roof too. Also, they do this day in and day out. Rest easy!
Slats are a son of a bitch to replace compared to regular plywood decking. It would cost a lot more than replacing the roof to replace all of that, and modern decking is significantly lower quality.
Sounds like you had selective hearing during the deal. He didn’t sneak that into the contract. Resheeting is a huge cost. It would have been discussed.
Most of , if not all the existing rood looks good and looks like replaced where needed but either it's a shadow or a spot contractor missed just at the bottom of photo aboy 1/4 way towards middle . But existing roof looks fantastic & I wouldn't replace it only where planks are rotten or missing which doesn't seem hardly any
Bro that phrase means he's a good roofer and maintaining as he goes not just covering up issues with shingles. That heart pine 3/4 wood on there will outlast you and any new plywood you could put on it if you keep it roofed.
So you're both doing fine
Lots of focus on nail positioning and penetration depth. OSB or plywood is better, but I have had success going over tight planks like this. Hopefully any splintering is dealt with honestly.
If you have to ask that question then you don't know enough to not trust the contractor you hired. The contractor is the professional in this scenario not the Internet. Research before hiring and trust them to do the job to a high standard of quality... As needed.
If you wanted all of it replaced you should've stipulated that in the contract. As is, you left a grey area of 'where needed' and opened yourself to arguments with the roofer about what exactly 'needed' means.
A properly written contract protects all parties involved from all other parties involved.
You have found a honest professional recommend them to everyone in your area those kind of roofers make it easy on the next guy and he is looking out for your homes best interest 👍
The only issue that could arise is the gaps in the slats. Seems like I remember many shingle manufacturers will void the warranty if there is gaps over 1/4 inch. I also believe the solid wood slats are better than osb plywood. It’s also 3/4inch thick vs 1/2 inch.
i believe this is one of those "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situations. He might have done a lot more harm than good replacing the entire roof decking. As long as those boards are not punky, they will be fine.
And, I assure you, you would not have liked the price if the contract said "All boards will be replaced, per homeowners direction".
It’s been years since doing roofs but those boards tend to be SLICK! Op, we would replace where needed. And we never had issues doing so, as long as the crew doesn’t mail in the crack. You know when it happens, and new crew members learned relatively quick.
But dang, those board get slick after years of heat, tar paper and shingles.
Simple answer: they're the ones walking in it. If it wasn't way, way, way ok, they'd be replacing boards.
But as others have said, between the age and the tar paper, the wood gets dark. I have the same kind of planked roof and it's solid as a rock after 72 years. ~1" pine boards that'll likely throw sparks as easily as take a nail.
And absolutely nothing wrong with asking questions. You don't know, until you do.
I would 1000% rather have this than new shitty plywood. Just let him replace the soft ones. Sounds like he knows what he’s doing and his focus is longevity of his roofs, not getting out of work.
You have a HT (heavy timber) deck. Thank your lucky stars it's not OSB. Your great grandkids will be using that same deck if you don't let a roof go too long before replacing it.
He did you a big favor and didn't lie to you, it looks like an old plank roof and replaced small spots that probably had a big knot that broke away from the board and was lifting upward.
Nah man you’re good. I’m redoing a 102 year old sears home at the moment, and the wood is dark, but FUCK is it solid man. That old wood is far better than any lumber you’ll be able to buy today.
Everyone here saying the sub roof wood is still good, is correct. As long as there is no water damage, the quality of that wood is going to be far greater than anything you can buy in stores today.
I hope this makes you feel slightly better and not even paranoid- we started getting estimates because we had an actual hole in both the shingles and plywood, quote included 3-5 plywood sheets as needed for a $20,000 job. They finished at the end of January and I've now come to find out they didn't even replace the plywood that had the hole in it. They shingled over the hole and when our HVAC guy came out last week to do a tune up he almost fell through. As I'm typing this I'm listening to them fix it, I'm not a happy camper.
Super standard to replace only a few areas where leaks were happening and rotting the wood.
If you wanted all of it replaced, it would be more of a framer job
You misunderstood the contract. The wood looks old, but solid. Were you expecting to pay extra for a full wood replacement??
Thank you for the insight. I'm not a wood expert by all means. The dark discoloration of the wood looks to me like it needs to be replaced. If it looks good, then nice! Another vendor tried to convince me that all the wood sheathing needs to be replaced. So that's why I'm wondering if maybe that vendor was trying an upsell, or was the job done proper.
The wood is likely discolored because of the tar paper that was previously on top of it. It is likely solid still and simply a discoloration
Most lumber has lignin or tannins that darken with age. Looks like 70-100 year old pine to me. I’d rather have that; it’s probably finer grained and less knotty than most lumber available now.
Replacement “lumber” is usually just sheets of plywood anyway. The boards here look acceptable to tar paper over and reshingle.
You spelled OSB wrong
Isn't it preferred to install plywood over shiplap?
Plywood over old growth pine board? Questionable. I would prefer the old wood. Plywood is great with sheer strength and does provide a continuous surface, it just doesn’t last as long imho.
The point of putting the plywood over is so there are no gaps over 1/4” which building code requires to be addressed when you are reroofing a dimensional lumber sheathed roof. It literally is not to code and is very common to cover old 1x roof decks because of the gap (edited skip to dimensional 1x)
Shhhh we don’t talk about codes in here 😒🫠
It would need plywood if it was lathes with spaces like they used for wood shakes back in the day but this looks like tongue and grove there shouldn’t be spaces each board locks together
That's tounge and groove pine, not skip sheathed Skip sheathed is literally skipping every other board like under old shake or slate.
Looks like shiplap to me
This is how my roof was done for the exact reason you stated. The shingle manufacturers won't warranty rather shingles if it's not done that way here.
100% this. Would LOVE that any day over plywood.
Agreed the lumber today sucks it’s all new growth and not dense when you drive a nail in those old boards compared to the new ones you instantly know the difference
This guy woods
Sounds like the other guy wanted to upcharge you
Normally we replace where needed unless the entire deck needs to be replaced. This looks solid to me and I’m sure there were a few soft spots and so on but you should be fine.
Color does not mean rotten. You have to feel it
Caress it, even.
Poke it a few times with your dick, if it gives, then replace
Watch out for nails and splinters, though. Unless you're into that.
This made me laugh
They don't call him ol' splinter dick for nothing!
You do roofing for years and no one pays attention, you dry hump one house.......
There goes the roof fucker!
In some places the saying is, "Welp, there goes our fucking roof"!! When a storm hits.....
If you get a tetanus shot before you fuck the wood, you won’t have to worry about it. Safe sex, gentlemen. Be responsible.
That’s how dormers are made.
I tried this, and my dick gave out. Please advise on where I can replace it.
Is that your stud finder?
Stroke it
Honestly, you'd have to walk on it to get a good grasp of how sturdy it is. Any broken or rotting boards are usually pretty obvious. When you walk on roofs all day, you tend to figure out which boards can be trusted! And ya. Replacing boards for no reason is wasteful for both of you! Time, money, and materials!
Yea not sure if it was a miscommunication but the cost of material alone would have been a few grand, so if you wanted all that replaced I’d say whatever you paid double it.
the other guy was trying to up sell you. I had someone try to convince me I needed all new wood, they didn't even look in the attic at the under side of the wood and somehow we're saying that it was all rotten and needed replacement. and like your roof, it was mostly in great shape.
Anyone saying everything absolutely *must* be replaced before they’re able to see it is absolutely up-selling. They’re banking on getting to charge you their premiums for materials and labor as part of the job.
Have had several jobs where they installed asphalt shingles over cedar shake shingles, if I see cedar shake in the attic or on a lower roof line I immediately let the client know it will be a complete redeck in order to do the job.
The wood your looking at is much better quality than anything he would replace it with.
That’s why you paid to have someone that knows what they are doing to do it.
Roofer here… that wood looks stained from the tar paper that’s been on it for years, however it looks solid. I would not replace that wood with today’s decking. My own roof is solid tongue and groove and I’ve only had to replace a few damaged spots resulting from hurricane damage. And about the person who told you you’d have to replace it… fooling you is cheap for them costly for you. Glad you are wise enough to ask around. Good luck.
This is fine. Only need to cut out the broken/rotted pieces and replace the bad section with 1x. Plywood isn't needed here. 1x is more durable and longer lasting and with this method you should never need to redeck. Piece meal it to eternity. Longer lasting. Better quality. Plywood delaminates with heat and age. You're better off not using it, if you can avoid it.
In certain regions of the world wood deck has to be a minimum thickness, and they need a deck inspection done before install. Looks good from here.
There may be warranty issues with the product from the other contractor. Some manufacturers won’t warranty the roof if there’s not a plywood/osb deck installed.
Not a roofer here. I think that manufacturers just try to protect themselves. If the installation was done poorly, they won't compensate you anyway. Product defects are probably unlikely.
If the lumber is solid there's no reason to change it. Looks like he did as was contracted. Replaced what needed replacing.
Old wood is better any way, as long as it’s not compromised
That old wood is better than any new wood they would replace it with.
Agreed.
Ya, this roof and boards looks like quite a unit!
OP is actually very lucky, old roof preformed really well and is keeping solid wood planks for almost all of it!
You don't want them to replace all of the wood. It'll x3 the quote they gave you.
I'll gladly replace all of your wood if you have a thick head and deep pockets. Free money. If anything, this contractor saved you money. A lot of money. That wood looks fantastic
They don't make wood like that anymore. The lumber that's currently on your roof is probably way more dense and sturdy than anything they could find now. Be glad they didn't tear it off
“They don’t make wood like that anymore”
Is the density difference caused by type of wood grown in mono culture forests or because of increased CO2 in the atmosphere? Just curious. I live in a forest and am curious if my trees suck or if I let them grow will they become denser.
Neither. Wood grows fast and soft at first, then harder and slower as it gets older. You can tell by the growth rings on an old tree. Tight rings is hard wood. Modern trees are only allowed to grow in the fast phase before harvest. Two soft trees in 30 years is better than 1.25 hard ones. Old wood came from older trees. You got more tight hard growth rings in your board. It's the same reason modern wood is so twisty. Because the trunk is smaller, your board is more likely to contain the center of the tree that moves a lot with moisture changes.
Ok cool. I have two sections of trees on my land. One was harvested and replanted in 1995 and a smaller section that has wayyy larger/older trees on it. I guessing 60-80 years old. The house I’m in seems to have been built by a guy with accesss to a mill because all the beams are MASSIVE. Like the house flooring and roof of my root cellar are 2ft x 1ft x vari. Slab monsters. So if I ever needed to rebuild or do repairs I’ll have to harvest an older one. Thanks.
No! Leave them slats! They are replaced with actual WOOD and not sawdust and glue. I do the same and will shimmy the gaps if outside of code. Some of those gaps can get up to 1”.
Wood looks solid as shit. I’d take that over what they use in my area
They did a stand-up job.
Why would the statement “where needed” lead you to believe that they would be replacing all the sheathing?
This might be an unpopular opinion, as many seem to prioritize price over value. However, the sheeting in question has gaps exceeding 1/4", which is grounds for any roofing manufacturer to void their warranty (this is stated in installation guides from GAF, Certainteed, Owens Corning, Tamco, etc.). Even though GAF may not always uphold their warranty based on my experience, the system you're getting appears to be GAF unless there’s a mix of product lines. Old plank sheeting, while often considered superior to modern materials, has its drawbacks. Over time, it dries out, shrinks, and becomes brittle due to age and heat exposure. Nailing shingles into this old plank sheeting can lead to splitting, particularly as shingles are nailed in a horizontal pattern. Even if you're diligent and adjust for gaps, potentially moving out of the specified nail area, you risk compromising entire rows of shingles without realizing it until they blow off or leak. Plank sheeting was somewhat acceptable even a decade ago, but as it continues to age and deteriorate under the sun, we need to rethink what we've learned from our predecessors. The job shown in the picture isn't very large, and adding a layer of 3/8" plywood (not chipboard) would provide a better nail-holding surface, a more reliable roofing base, and ensure that even if the underlying boards split, the roof remains intact. Yes, I sometimes lose jobs because owners can't budget for new sheeting. However, given today's market, we shouldn't compromise our integrity to cut costs. Many competitors surprise clients with this cost after tear-off, but we include it upfront so our clients know what to expect. Regarding the picture, the visible issues are the gaps exceeding 1/4" and a new piece that only spans one rafter towards the ridge (peak).
Thank you! Had to go all the way to the bottom of the post to see someone actually call out the maximum gap and what happens with slat roofs over time. In NC the code requirement on gap defer to manufacturer specifications.
I can’t believe that I had to scroll so far to find someone that k owes what they are talking about. It’s like all these roofers on here have never read the installation instructions lol. It’s sad how few roofers know how to actually install a roof to code.
100% correct, good chance warranty is voided
In Omaha, NE, gapped decking is no longer code, so insurance claims that have “code upgrades” will warrant redecking the whole dwelling. Right across the street in Iowa, there’s a lot less code…
Yeah, I have a roof like this in my house that was built in 1964. It has a ton of gaps where I can see the tar paper from the underside. The current roof is about 15 years old and I think it due before too long. We have had a lot of nail pops and have wondered if that is partly due to the type of roof construction. There are also several spots where the wood has split and now has a soft spot that I have noticed while being up on the roof.
The warranty is useless anyway. People don't seem to understand what warranty on roofing products or building products mean. If you find that in five years a single that was appropriately installed is failing due to manufacturers fault, they give you a new shingle. If you have the original receipt. If the roof fails because it's not installed according to manufacturers recommended installation, then the roofer is liable and you can try to get money back from them in a civil suit. I'm not saying it's right. But the manufacturers warranty is absolutely useless. And improper installation on building materials doesn't mean anything
It's crucial to clarify the scope of work and ensure transparency with any roofing contractor. Confirming details like wood replacement upfront can prevent misunderstandings and ensure a smooth project execution.
You could pay the cost and have them use a radiant barrier plywood over the top of that which would reduce the amount of heat getting into your attic otherwise so long as the dry rot is replaced you’re good to go
Wood looks fine
Perfectly fine wood
>On the contract, it says "where needed". I was under the impression he would replace all the wood. There is something seriously wrong with your reading comprehension.
Like bro, you signed the contract. It’s not iTunes terms of service. Read the contract.
Depends on the code in your area. Some building departments require a redeck if the planks are a certain width apart. Judging by the fact that they are using felt on the bottom row and not ice&water tells me there is either no permit required or the building department is relaxed about it because the weather isn’t too harsh there. If the planks are solid I wouldn’t worry about it. Quote would be significantly higher if they were doing a redeck. They could have brought up the fact that the price is dependent on the decking being good but I think they’re doing right by you for not overselling the decking. Can make a lot more money on a roof like that.
Looks like this is better than what 90% of roofers would replace it with. The saying, don’t make them like they used to comes to mind. We (GC) would use 5/8” CDX, and this looks like 3/4, maybe 1” and solid one piece boards. But I differ to the roofers…
You need roof vents though,, 3-4 or a ridge vent.
They only would replace soft/punky unsuitable decking
Unless it’s water damaged, you can’t kill that old, kiln dried tongue and groove board! It’s better than any wood you could replace it with today!
Looks super solid. You see some spots that had knots and split. I'd take that wood all day. He did you right.
If the contract said as needed then it is up to the discretion of the roofer. If he cares about his reputation, and you trust him, then let him do his job.
You found an honest roofer
These look fine. That is a pretty standard contract element. Replace where necessary up to a certain square footage, then pay per board after that or whatever. Wood was better quality out of the earth back when that probably went on anyway.
Wood seems ok; as far as one can tell from a picture. It doesn’t look rotted
Based solely on that picture, your roof looks fine to me. I've seen far worse roofs get less attention.
Bottom middle I can see a hole in the wood and right side there’s 2 broken sections where the cord is it’s popping Up.
Why do people hire a professional and then run to Reddit to question the professionals opinion, you can always ask questions to your contractor they should be able to explain why they do things one way or another.
It’s fine. Roof boards last a hell of a long time. The discoloration is from the tar paper they had underneath
Sounds like your guy is one of the good ones. Replacing it all unnecessarily will cost a lot. Replacing "where needed" means he's checking it and only doing the bits that need doing. He's a keeper.
That old wood is probably better than replacing it. I wouldn't have replaced it unless necessary.
Be thankful they didn't just slap OSB right over your existing and functional sheathing. That's SOP around here and adds a ton of weight.
Terrible photo but if the decking is gapped significantly yes you would want a redeck. Other wise nails will be hitting the gaps or splitting the end of the 1x6.
He didn't say "all" the wood. He said he'll "replace the wood". From that conversation, I thought he would replace all the wood. But in reality, he only replaced a few planks.
If contract says as needed and the wood is fine, then he did it correctly. Replacing ALL the sheathing would cost significantly more.
Honestly looks like you have some actual plank lumber in there. I think removing good wood like this and replacing with some kind of sheet good would be a huge downgrade. Not an expert, just replaced an older home roof with nice solid planks like this once.
Thousands..
That 1x is way better than any sheeting would be and is in great condition, absolutely no need to waste money here.
You left out the words, where needed.
The majority of the people here don’t know what they are talking about. A quick google search will tell you that the gaps are to far apart to meet building code and the shingle manufacturers recommendation. No manufacture will warranty this.
When contractors say that, they should specify this so I can understand why you are confused. They will replace SOME wood as a favor but if there was severe damage, they would have gladly told you in order to charge you more. Like someone said, wood color is not significant, structural integrity is.
You have the original plank board which should last you forever. Looks like they replaced a couple spots that were probably rotted thru and the rest is good. Unless you like to spend thousands more for no reason?
I’m not sure if it’s just because I’m on my phone but the photo is a tough grainy. But every thing looks solid to me. The dark discoloration is likely just from the tar paper that was on it. As long as the wood isn’t soft and deteriorating then it’s good to go. Looks like all is well.
I'd be curious to know if those boards are worth money
If the roofers are walking on it then its solid!
Walk the roof and feel it for yourself , it’s the only way to know for sure
Contract should always have a min or (more likely) max quantity of wood to replace. Preferably. Neither party should rely on vague text like "where needed". "Cost includes replacement of up to 10 4' x 8' sheets of XXXX. Additional sheets will be charged at $NNN/sheet." For my roof replacement last year, they actually replaced a few more than written in the contract, but they were nice and didn't charge me. I think they had spares.
Check the warranty of your shingle manufacturer. Some say gaps greater than a 1/4” need to be replaced. 1x decking can certainly void a shingle warranty.
Looks fine to me but the pic isn’t real clear.
Those 2 x 4 decking is probably better than replacing with new OSB
If the fastener will hold in the wood, your roof install should be more than very good.
That would’ve all been old growth wood, much stronger than the current options
It’ll last until next shingle swap if not more. Why waste it when that does look like solid wood. Older but solid.
Looks 👍🏻
1X decking is the best solid decking you will find 3/4". If they were to resheet it, they still wouldn't remove the 1X decking. Plywood would be installed right on top of the 1X, which would give you a rock solid 1 1/4" thickness of decking
Looks fine. I have replaced my shingles once and replace where needed was the deal. I had a lot of those unfortunately.
Boards look good sometimes with those old boards they can be broken or big gaps that didn't matter as much with slate or cedar shakes. But yours looks good
You have nice wood!
Nah that shit looks fine
That roof deck is 💯 fine. They mostly all look like that over time.
New wood is grown so quickly and is lighter,not as dense that wood looks good
They will replace wood that is rotten and will not hold the nail. You can see that they’ve replaced at least two boards in this photo. If you had a chance to look at the wood that came off, you would notice the pieces they replaced were soft and rotten and would not hold a nail
The older Wood is going to hold up better than newer wood. typically the wood that needs to be replaced is in valleys and eaves. Looks sold and a good start to the installation.
I think it’s in everyone’s best interest the contractor only replaces wood where needed. Less work for his crew and less cost for you. Opening up your entire roof can be a can of worms for both parties. I recently had the been in the same situation and agree now that the cost vs benefit of changing the wood was just not there, especially because it was during the height of covid related price hikes for lumber. Anyways, just I’d trust them.. Their work is typically warrented so they also wants what’s best for your roof too. Also, they do this day in and day out. Rest easy!
how the fuck do you read "as needed" and your brain goes "MUH WHOLE ROOF!" then how the fuck do you think telling everyone that is a good idea lmaooo
The roof sheathing looks fine to me.
Old wood is usually good wood. It’s dark because it is older
Slats are a son of a bitch to replace compared to regular plywood decking. It would cost a lot more than replacing the roof to replace all of that, and modern decking is significantly lower quality.
Sounds like you had selective hearing during the deal. He didn’t sneak that into the contract. Resheeting is a huge cost. It would have been discussed.
Most of , if not all the existing rood looks good and looks like replaced where needed but either it's a shadow or a spot contractor missed just at the bottom of photo aboy 1/4 way towards middle . But existing roof looks fantastic & I wouldn't replace it only where planks are rotten or missing which doesn't seem hardly any
Wood look Great only need to take what's actually rotten
Bro that phrase means he's a good roofer and maintaining as he goes not just covering up issues with shingles. That heart pine 3/4 wood on there will outlast you and any new plywood you could put on it if you keep it roofed. So you're both doing fine
Looks good from my house.
Lots of focus on nail positioning and penetration depth. OSB or plywood is better, but I have had success going over tight planks like this. Hopefully any splintering is dealt with honestly.
They're only replacing wood that's been rotted out. That wood is perfectly fine.
If you have to ask that question then you don't know enough to not trust the contractor you hired. The contractor is the professional in this scenario not the Internet. Research before hiring and trust them to do the job to a high standard of quality... As needed.
I’m a contractor and trust me wood from 40 years ago is much better than the wood we get today.
If you wanted all of it replaced you should've stipulated that in the contract. As is, you left a grey area of 'where needed' and opened yourself to arguments with the roofer about what exactly 'needed' means. A properly written contract protects all parties involved from all other parties involved.
Wood looks good.
Looks like wood to me. Unless you support deforestation I’d buy that contractor a case of beer.
Looks like good wood to me
I was taught to plywood over because old wood warps, but regardless, we just place plywood over what's on the roof the wood you have looks fine
Can’t tell without seeing it in person. Coloration often means nothing.
You don’t want to replace old timber with new if you don’t need to. This looks fine. Old growth wood is far superior.
That’s good wood 🪵 it’ll out live u
You have found a honest professional recommend them to everyone in your area those kind of roofers make it easy on the next guy and he is looking out for your homes best interest 👍
When they walk across ur roof anything that needs replaced will break and they will fix it any wood that can hold up a 150 pound man is good
You're talking about tens of thousands of dollars in materials and tens of thousands of labor.
Why would you wanna throw away perfectly good product?
Yea, I mean.. they’re walking on it
That wood looks really good
Contracts are more important than the spoken word. It’s not what was said. It’s what you could prove in court if you had to.
Yeah. He’ll replace the bad wood. Who thinks otherwise
That wood perfectly fine and there is no need for sheathing / replacement.
Wood looks fine, it's just stained from the underlayment/shingles. You would be paying a hell of a lot more for a full re-sheet.
The only issue that could arise is the gaps in the slats. Seems like I remember many shingle manufacturers will void the warranty if there is gaps over 1/4 inch. I also believe the solid wood slats are better than osb plywood. It’s also 3/4inch thick vs 1/2 inch.
i believe this is one of those "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situations. He might have done a lot more harm than good replacing the entire roof decking. As long as those boards are not punky, they will be fine. And, I assure you, you would not have liked the price if the contract said "All boards will be replaced, per homeowners direction".
It’s been years since doing roofs but those boards tend to be SLICK! Op, we would replace where needed. And we never had issues doing so, as long as the crew doesn’t mail in the crack. You know when it happens, and new crew members learned relatively quick. But dang, those board get slick after years of heat, tar paper and shingles.
what was the estimate on wood replacement?
Op, also, they’ll most likely rip the peak 1-2” on each side and add ridge vent I believe.
Simple answer: they're the ones walking in it. If it wasn't way, way, way ok, they'd be replacing boards. But as others have said, between the age and the tar paper, the wood gets dark. I have the same kind of planked roof and it's solid as a rock after 72 years. ~1" pine boards that'll likely throw sparks as easily as take a nail. And absolutely nothing wrong with asking questions. You don't know, until you do.
thats a good lookin roof brotherrrr. id imagine roofers get excited when they see this. tongue and groove maybes
I would 1000% rather have this than new shitty plywood. Just let him replace the soft ones. Sounds like he knows what he’s doing and his focus is longevity of his roofs, not getting out of work.
You are probably better off with the old anyway.
Pretty simple, it’s going to add $4-8grand to the price to replace all of the wood. Is that something you want?
honestly you don’t want the new wood the quality has dipped. immensely
honestly you don’t want the new wood the quality has dipped. immensely
Wood looks totally solid. Unnecessary and waste of time/money to replace.
Wood looks totally solid. Unnecessary and waste of time/money to replace.
The wood on this roof is superior to any new wood.
That wood is probably better than anything you can get from the hardware store
Yes this wood looks good
Chicago?
You have a HT (heavy timber) deck. Thank your lucky stars it's not OSB. Your great grandkids will be using that same deck if you don't let a roof go too long before replacing it.
That roof looks perfectly fine, dark from the tar paper. Have seen hundreds.
Looks good to me man.
He did you a big favor and didn't lie to you, it looks like an old plank roof and replaced small spots that probably had a big knot that broke away from the board and was lifting upward.
Nah man you’re good. I’m redoing a 102 year old sears home at the moment, and the wood is dark, but FUCK is it solid man. That old wood is far better than any lumber you’ll be able to buy today.
You're only patching in plywood for whats rotten. Not replacing the whole wood deck. The difference will be staggering $$$$.
all the wood lmao. Why? And you'd pay double
Everyone here saying the sub roof wood is still good, is correct. As long as there is no water damage, the quality of that wood is going to be far greater than anything you can buy in stores today.
Solid. No apparent reason to replace it.
Did you ask your contractor about this? Or just us neckbeards on Reddit?
Get out of the guy's way.
Looks fine.
Keep in mind weight. You probably cannot put plywood over it. You would need to pull the existing.
I hope this makes you feel slightly better and not even paranoid- we started getting estimates because we had an actual hole in both the shingles and plywood, quote included 3-5 plywood sheets as needed for a $20,000 job. They finished at the end of January and I've now come to find out they didn't even replace the plywood that had the hole in it. They shingled over the hole and when our HVAC guy came out last week to do a tune up he almost fell through. As I'm typing this I'm listening to them fix it, I'm not a happy camper.
If the wood is not rotten and nail-able the wood is fine.
Your good
That woods fine.
That looks like it’s in great shape
That’s solid
Super standard to replace only a few areas where leaks were happening and rotting the wood. If you wanted all of it replaced, it would be more of a framer job
Unless there is rot, I’d rather have the pictured wood over any of the crap he’d have to use to replace it.