What Is Roof Decking?

A roof installation project has many moving parts and demands more than just picking out the shingle colors. You have to decide on a roofing material that isn’t too heavy for your roof structure, installing the correct waterproof membrane for your roof, and checking that your roofing deck is in working order.

While some terms may sound foreign to you, our expert roofing contractors at A-TEX Roofing & Remodeling are here to help guide you through the intricacies of roofing and make sure that your home is taken care of.

What is Roof Decking?

When viewing a completed roofing system, the roof decking isn’t visible, but it is essentially the backbone of your entire roofing system. Your roof’s structure, which is made up of trusses and joists, is the skeleton of your roof and the roof deck is the material found in between these structures. The roof deck is the part of the roof on which all materials and components are placed.

Roof decks are often made of plywood or lumber for residential homes and steel, cement, or concrete for commercial buildings. This is because the roof deck needs to be strong enough to withstand all the roofing materials and any external forces that may come its way.

Why It’s Important To Have A Functional Roof Deck

Your roof deck supports your entire roofing system. Without it, you would simply have a roof structure with no shield protecting you from the external environment. Having a functional roofing deck is essential as it is your roofing system’s backbone.

A faulty roof deck can lead to an increase in roofing material loss, leakages inside your home, and potentially even structural damage.

Types of Roof Decking Materials

There are many roof decking materials available to you. The array of options allows you to compare them against one another, allowing you to make the best decision for your home.

Oriented Strand Board: Oriented Strand Board is the most commonly used material for building roof decks. They’re made up of interwoven wood strands that have been bonded together with adhesive and are highly durable, affordable, and readily available.

Plywood – Plywood is a trendy roof decking material that is easy to install, affordable and sturdy. Half-inch construction-grade plywood is used to create roof decking for your home.

Tongue and Groove: The tongue and groove decking is the perfect choice for those looking to add that extra visual flair to their home. It’s made up of two-by-six boards that are locked into one another, forming a beautiful roof decking without any need for a ceiling at all.

Structural Concrete Decks – Concrete decking is cast or poured to create a smooth concrete finish. These decks have post-tensioned slabs with prestressed steel cables positioned along the roof’s structure before the concrete is poured. Concrete roof decks are highly durable and are often used when building commercial roofing systems.

For more information about roof decking or roofing in general, don’t hesitate to call A-Tex Roofing & Remodeling.