In August 2026, Loudoun Roofing replaced the roof on a single-story ranch home in Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia, including all of the decking. The old 3/8-inch decking had worn out and was breaking through, and the roof had no ridge ventilation, so the crew installed new OSB across the whole roof, added a ridge vent and put on a new architectural shingle roof.
Project at a glance
- Location: Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia
- Home: Single-story ranch
- Project: Full roof replacement with new decking
- Decking: All old 3/8-inch decking replaced with new OSB (24 sheets)
- Ventilation: 22 feet of new ridge vent added
- Also new: Architectural shingles, synthetic underlayment, ice and water shield and a pipe boot
- Inspection: August 8, 2026
- Project duration: 1 day on the roof (August 25, 2026)
- Completed: August 2026
- Contractor: Loudoun Roofing HIC
About Leesburg
Leesburg is the county seat of Loudoun County, with a historic downtown and neighborhoods that range from older brick homes near the town center to newer subdivisions on the edges of town. Learn more from the Town of Leesburg.
The challenge and how we solved it
The August inspection found the decking under this roof had reached the end of its life. It was thin 3/8-inch decking, and in one spot it had broken through completely. The wood along the roof edge behind the gutter was rotted, the shingles were worn and curling, and the roof had no ridge vent, so there wasn’t enough ventilation.
A new roof needs solid decking to nail into, so the crew stripped the roof down to the rafters, installed new OSB over the entire roof with panel clips, and added a ridge vent along the peak before installing the new shingles.
Before
What we did
- Inspected the roof and documented the worn decking and lack of ventilation.
- Removed the old shingles and decking down to the rafters.
- Installed new OSB decking over the whole roof, with panel clips between the sheets.
- Installed ice and water shield and synthetic underlayment.
- Installed starter strip and new architectural shingles.
- Cut a ridge opening and installed 22 feet of ridge vent with ridge caps.
- Installed a new pipe boot, then cleaned up and checked the finished roof.
The finished project
Why these materials
New decking. The whole roof got new OSB decking, installed with panel clips between the sheets, so the new shingles are nailed into solid wood.
Ridge vent. The old roof had no ridge ventilation. The new ridge vent lets warm, moist air escape along the peak, which helps keep the attic drier. See our page on asphalt shingle roofs for the shingles we install.
Keeping your roof in good shape
- Check your attic a couple of times a year for water stains, and keep attic vents clear so moisture can escape.
- Clean your gutters after the fall leaf drop and again in spring. Clogged gutters push water back under the edge of the roof.
- After strong storms or wind warnings from the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington office in Sterling, look over your roof from the ground for missing or lifted shingles.
- If your attic feels hot and stuffy in summer or you see frost on the nails in winter, have the ventilation checked.
Frequently asked questions
When it is soft, rotted, delaminating or too thin to hold nails well. On this Leesburg ranch, the old 3/8-inch decking had broken through, so all of it was replaced.
A ridge vent lets hot, moist air out of the attic along the peak. This roof had no ridge ventilation, so 22 feet of ridge vent was added.
It can, but on this ranch home the crew removed the old decking, installed new OSB and finished the new roof in one day.
Oriented strand board, an engineered wood panel widely used for roof decking.
Planning a roof project in Leesburg?
Planning a roof project in Leesburg? See our Leesburg roofing page, learn about roof replacement and roof repair, browse more completed projects, or contact us for a free estimate.