Wood roofing materials will last for many years with the absence of moisture. Measures are taken to control moisture in the wood building materials of your home to help it last longer.
Ventilation helps control moisture by allowing the wood to dry out quickly. When wood materials to become moist the wood gets larger with swelling and contracting smaller when dry. The action of expansion and contracting can case cracks in materials. Caulking in joints or openings will keep the wood material flexible and bend with the movements.
Excess Moisture can Cause Serious Damage
Moisture can accumulate in spaces of exterior walls and attic areas. Trapped moisture can reduce the thermal resistance value of insulation materials and can cause blistering and peeling of paint. Brown lines and discoloration on boards can be caused by spreading moisture.
When the underlying felt of asphalt roof coverings become wet the roof can buckle in built up tar and gravel roofs. Often wood surfaces appear to be dry, by scratching across the grain with a screwdriver or coin. If scratching produces indention marks and no wood fibers break loose, the wood is probably wet. If however slivers of wood break loose then the wood is probably dry.
Keeping your home dry and controlling the moisture is a key concern for most homeowners. A leaky roof will allow rain and snow to come into your home, you will either need to perform roof repair or replace your roof. Moisture is also generated in your home from cooking, bathing, washing dishes and clothes.
A vapor barrier on the inside over the wall and ceiling insulation will keep the wood dry. Adequate ventilation for attic and eave areas is a good measure to control moisture in your home.
