When you have your roof replaced, your roofing contractor will predominantly be focused on ripping the old roof off and putting the new one in place. But sometimes in the course of this work, they will notice other problems that need to be addressed. Usually, these issues can be addressed in the process of replacing the roof. However, it is important for you to understand what's going on so you make wise decisions if these issues arise for you. Learn about common problems encountered in the course of roof replacement below.

Rotten Roof Deck

The wood deck is the wood that underlies the shingles. It's basically your roof's support structure. When your roofer strips off the shingles, they might find that part of the roof has become rotten. This usually happens when there has been a roof leak for a while, but it was not addressed in a timely manner. Your roofer can remove and replace the rotten part of the roof deck. They'll then put new shingles over the repaired roof deck. This will add to the cost of your roof replacement, but it's fairly routine roofing work that any roofing contractor should be able to handle.

Damaged Flashing

The flashing is the metal sheets that surround chimneys and line valleys where two roof sections come together. Some roofers replace flashing by default when they replace a shingle roof. Others only do this maintenance if the flashing is clearly damaged or deteriorating. Often, flashing damage is only obvious once the shingles that overlapped the flashing are removed. So, don't be surprised if your roofer only tells you that you need the flashing replaced once they're already on the roof. This should be done at the same time as a roof replacement since shingles need to be removed to fully access the flashing.

Lack of Vents

Roofs have vents that are intended to let warm air escape from the attic. If your roofer finds that your attic is really moist and warm, they may advise that you have more roof vents added. They can discuss the various vent options with you. In some cases, a ridge vent, which runs along the ridge of your roof, may be ideal. In other cases, they may recommend soffit vents, which are placed under the eaves in the soffit of your roof.

Roof replacement projects are always a bit exploratory, and sometimes other roof problems may become evident during a replacement. Make sure you're equipped to deal with them. 

Contact a local residential roofing company for more information.