These soft spots usually form when the layer underneath gets soaked due to gaps in the shingles.
Soft plywood on roof.
When used in flooring plywood functions as the subfloor that supports hardwoods tile and carpet floors.
When used for roofing plywood panels are covered and protected by a variety of building materials that keep the elements at bay including roof felt underlayment flashing and shingles.
And that extreme heat can damage both your shingles and the wood decking below them and causing your roof to feel soft when walking on it.
In roofing plywood is often selected due to its strength.
Strip out all materials such as fiberglass or wool insulation between the cavities to expose the roof s support beams.
Without good attic ventilation your roof gets extremely hot.
Most roofs have plywood sheeting underneath the roofing tiles or shingles.
Why is plywood used in roofing.
Do not cut into the roof rafters.
Inadequate attic ventilation can also cause your shingle roof to feel spongy or bouncy.
In roofing plywood can be used as roof decking.
Roof decking is the material that lies on top of the main roofing structure and the underlayment and roof covering is applied on top.
If you can tell there s a soft spot on your roof this most likely means that the substrate below the roofing material is damaged and deteriorating.
Most roofs have plywood sheeting underneath the roofing tiles or shingles.
The reason for these soft spots is that the layer underneath is probably very soaked due to gaps in the shingles cause over time and weather changes and the water is seeping through the sheeting.
Over the period of manufacturer s designated roof lifetime of 25 to 30 years that plywood is exposed to heat in the summers heavy rains and the winter weather and cold dampness it brings.
Plywood will weaken over time sometimes softening in places where the wood has gotten damp because of those gaps.
This can be a result of the plywood sheeting becoming wet from rain above or from moisture not being able to escape from below and leading to mold mildew growth on the wood.