Structural Roofing Defect Repair

The homeowner initially contacted us because she had water intrusion and possible dry rot near a second-floor window. Our initial discovery revealed dry rot, as suspected. However, we quickly learned there was more damage than anticipated, and the rot had already compromised the home’s structure. The structural dry rot damage was due to water damage as the result of a construction defect in design.

Looking further into this roofing defect, we concluded we would need to tackle the job in three phases. First, remove the dry rot, and re-flash the window and waterproof the structure underneath the siding. Second, re-design the roof cricket so it would efficiently move water off the roof and to the gutter system. Last, perform a targeted siding repair and color match the new siding with the existing siding.

The first step was to remove the roofing material and figure out the extent of the damage caused by the roofing defect. The ridge of the roof meets the membrane material and only provides a slight slope. The lack of incline causes rain runoff to wick up into the sheathing of the house behind the siding, causing significant dry rot damage and water intrusion. After we uncovered the underlying damage, our crew conducted the dry rot repair.

The next step was to frame a double sloped valley with a roofing cricket. The roofing cricket corrects the sloping defects and creates a highspeed rainwater runoff channel, thereby directing water to the gutter system quickly and efficiently. After we installed the roofing cricket, we installed the correct water barrier, ice shield material, and flashing to provide the homeowner with a watertight seal. Then, we had a sheet metal specialist fabricate and install a one-piece metal pan that will last for decades.

Finally, we brought in our siding carpenters to perform targeted repairs where the dry rot was repaired so our paint crew could color match the new siding with the old siding. The house looks beautiful and performs amazingly, ensuring that this area will remain free of leaks and issues.

Since 2005, SFW Construction has completed thousands of home repair projects in the Pacific Northwest. Many of our service calls are the result of construction defects, which are due to poor design, inferior materials, or poor workmanship. Unfortunately, we see many construction defects on newer homes due to the competition to build new homes being so high. If you need any exterior home repair, contact SFW Construction. We are experts at what we do and are willing to tackle the jobs the other guys won’t because they lack the expertise—or because they don’t have the time.