A new roof can solve the obvious problem above a home, but sometimes the most valuable work happens after the old shingles come off. That was the case with this Cape-style home in Exeter, New Hampshire. Compass Exteriors was hired for a complete roof replacement, and during the project our crew uncovered two conditions worth correcting before the new roofing system was completed: sections of rotted roof decking and bathroom exhaust fans that were venting moist indoor air into the attic. Instead of simply replacing the shingles and moving on, we addressed both issues while the roof was open. Owens Corning Duration Shingles in Williamsburg Gray For the finished roof, the homeowners selected Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration shingles in Williamsburg Gray. Williamsburg Gray has a dimensional blend of gray tones that works especially well on traditional New England architecture. On this Exeter Cape, it gave the home an updated appearance without overpowering the simple, classic lines of the house. The TruDefinition Duration shingles were installed as part of a complete Owens Corning roofing system, giving the homeowners a new asphalt shingle roof designed for long-term performance in New Hampshire's changing weather conditions. But before we could install it correctly, we needed to deal with what we found underneath. Rotted Roof Decking Discovered During Tear-Off Once the existing roofing materials were removed, sections of the roof deck showed deterioration from rot. Roof decking is the structural surface directly beneath the roofing system. Even premium shingles shouldn't be installed over plywood or boards that are soft, compromised, or no longer capable of providing a sound fastening surface. Our crew removed the failed sections and installed new decking where necessary before proceeding with the new roof. This is one reason a thorough roof replacement in Exeter, NH involves more than counting shingles and installing a new layer. Tear-off gives us an opportunity to see conditions that may have been completely hidden during an exterior roof inspection. The homeowners now know that the new Owens Corning system is installed over properly repaired decking rather than concealing deteriorated material underneath. Correcting Bathroom Exhaust Ventilation The decking wasn't the only issue we found. Some of the home's bathroom exhaust fans were terminating inside the attic rather than exhausting outdoors. That's something we want to correct whenever we encounter it. Bathrooms generate a significant amount of warm, humid air from showers and normal daily use. If that moisture is discharged directly into an attic, it can increase attic humidity and create conditions that contribute to condensation, damp sheathing, deterioration, and mold growth over time. As part of this Exeter roofing project, Compass rerouted the affected bathroom exhaust fans so the moist air was properly discharged outside the home rather than into the attic space. It's not a dramatic upgrade you notice from the driveway, but it may be one of the most important improvements made during the entire project. Can Poor Bathroom Ventilation Damage a Roof? Indirectly, yes. A roof can be perfectly watertight from the exterior while moisture problems develop from inside the home. When bathroom fans, kitchen exhaust, or other moisture sources terminate improperly in an attic, humid air can encounter cold roof surfaces during New Hampshire winters. Over time, repeated moisture and condensation can contribute to mold growth and deterioration of roof sheathing. That's why evaluating attic ventilation and moisture conditions can be important when replacing a roof—particularly when there are unexplained areas of damaged decking. For this Cape, correcting the exhaust routing helped address a potential source of future attic moisture rather than simply replacing damaged material and leaving the contributing condition untouched. Roof Repair or Roof Replacement in Exeter? Not every roofing problem requires a new roof. A failed pipe boot, isolated flashing issue, a few damaged shingles, or a localized leak can often be handled with a professional roof repair. When an asphalt shingle roof has widespread age or deterioration—and especially when issues with decking begin appearing—a complete roof replacement may provide the better long-term solution. The important part is understanding what is actually happening with the roof system. On this Exeter home, the project ultimately addressed several layers at once: Complete removal of the aging roofing system Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration shingles Williamsburg Gray shingle color Removal and replacement of rotted roof decking Correction of improperly terminated bathroom exhaust fans Improved management of moisture entering the attic A complete new roofing system installed over a sound substrate More Than a New Roof for This Exeter Cape From outside, the biggest change is easy to see: the Cape now has a fresh Williamsburg Gray Owens Corning roof that fits naturally with the traditional character of the home. What makes this project more interesting is what happened underneath it. The deteriorated decking was removed instead of being covered. Bathroom fans that had been pushing moist air into the attic were rerouted outdoors. Those corrections gave us an opportunity to address conditions that could have continued affecting the roof assembly long after the new shingles were installed. That's the difference between treating a roof replacement as a shingle installation and looking at the roof as a complete system. For homeowners searching for a roofing contractor in Exeter, NH, Compass Exteriors provides roof inspections, roof repairs, asphalt shingle roof replacements, roof-decking repairs, ventilation corrections, and complete Owens Corning roofing systems throughout Exeter and the surrounding New Hampshire Seacoast.