Roof decking, also called sheathing, is the layer of plywood or OSB boards nailed to your rafters. The underlayment and shingles or metal are fastened to it, so the whole roof is only as strong as the deck.
When a small leak goes unnoticed, water soaks into the decking and it starts to rot. Rotten wood can't hold nails, so shingles loosen and blow off, and the leak gets worse.
Common signs are soft spots when walking the roof, sagging between rafters, dark stains on the attic side of the boards, and a musty smell in the attic.
During a roof replacement, we check every section of decking once the old roof is off and replace any boards that are soft or damaged. We never cover rotten wood with a new roof.
If you've had a leak or notice soft spots, call (919) 780-1463. Catching rot early keeps a small repair from turning into a big one.