The roof decking felt soft at the front corner where this unit meets the one next door
What we found
When the inspector walked the roof at the front of the building, the decking — the flat sheet material nailed across the rafters that forms the base layer of a roof — felt soft at the point where this unit meets the adjacent unit to the right. Soft decking does not feel firm underfoot the way sound wood does.
Why it happens here
Roof decking is installed to give the roofing material a solid, stable surface to attach to and to help carry the load of the roof down into the framing below. When decking softens, it has lost some of that rigidity, which affects both its structural role and its ability to keep the layers above it flat and secure. The location here — at the joint between two attached units — is where two separate roof planes or flashing details (metal strips used to seal gaps and direct water away) meet, a spot where the decking must do its job precisely.
What it means for you
Soft decking at a boundary joint means a qualified roofing contractor needs to open that area and find out how far the softness extends and what condition the material is in underneath. Until that inspection happens, the full picture is not known.
What to do
Have a qualified roofing contractor evaluate the soft area before your inspection contingency — the window in your purchase contract during which you can act on inspection findings — expires. The contractor can assess the extent of the condition and tell you what repairs are needed.
How common is this
Soft roof decking is something inspectors specifically look for and report, and having a roofing contractor assess and repair affected decking is a routine part of home ownership. Getting that evaluation done promptly is the standard next step.
A roofing contractor's hands-on look at that joint will give you the clear picture you need before you move forward.
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