Roof Deck Damage Solutions Explained by Experts

By Alec Doniger. 

Greg Hlavaty and Hal Leland discuss methods for treating and preventing deck damage. 

In a recent episode of the Understanding Roof Restoration podcast, Karen Edwards interviews Greg Hlavaty and Hal Leland of Western Colloid about dealing with deck damage. This type of damage can be difficult to spot, because the roof deck sits underneath the roofing system. For this reason, you need to be creative when evaluating the condition of a roof deck. Greg and Hal are experts in this subject and explain what has worked for them when evaluating a deck. 

“In the past, [I’ve had] many consultants say, ‘If I can’t see the deck, I won’t write a spec,’” Greg says after being asked about detecting deck problems. These consultants wanted the roof completely removed to evaluate the deck. However, Greg explains that even if you can’t see the deck, “there are definitely ways to find out if you have problems.”  

His first suggestion, for those with plywood decks, is to have a professional walk along the roof and notice if there are any soft or spongy areas, which can form if the roof has been repeatedly exposed to excessive moisture. If these spots cover most of the surface area, your roofing system will need a replacement. A roof replacement is time-consuming and costly, so it is important to take precautions to ensure your roof doesn’t receive too much moisture. 

If you see a low spot on the roof, it will pond water. If this happens, your roof will be subject to water weight, which will also lead to serious deck issues. “We add an extra layer of reinforcement in the waterproofing in those areas,” Hal says. “So, it's not a lot of weight, but it's good insurance for keeping that membrane dry for 10, 15 or 20 years before we have to recoat it again.” 

Metal decks are less likely to run into problems, but they still can. If they are corroding, it can be particularly serious. Corrosion can let water seep through and damage the deck. For the most part, however, it is very rare for metal roofs to receive deck damage.  

Taking the proper steps to prevent deck damage can save you lots of time and money. Consulting experts like Hal and Greg about these issues can give you the insight needed to care for your investment. 

Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about how to care for your roof deck. 

Have a question? AskARoofer. 

Find your local roofing contractor in the RoofersCoffeeShop® Contractor Directory. 

About Alec   

Alec is a reporter for RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop and AskARoofer. When he isn’t investigating the state of the roofing industry, you might find him playing drums with his bands in Denver.