In many cases the continued wetting of the sheathing will cause it to rot but that may take several years or decades depending on the attic ventilation.
Attic sheathing black.
If the wood is soft if it s easily imprinted when you push on it it s probably rotten.
This can be caused by the action of fungal growth and molds and the affect they have on the tannins in the wood.
The other two possibilities for the stains.
The following picture is of a long standing moisture condition in an attic where much of the roof sheathing has turned black.
The mold itself may have a cottony texture but can also be velvety leathery or.
Mold growth on attic roof sheathing is a common issue in cool climates such as the pacific northwest.
Attic mold cleaner attic mold removal how to clean attic mold how attic mold gets there in the first place and what to do to help prevent attic mold.
I have surface mold on the sheathing in my 1982 vintage 12 6 pitched attic.
In old houses you ll usually see some spots that are stained dark or black where there was a roof leak at some point in time which was repaired but the stain remains.
White and green fuzzy growth on osb sheathing.
I m aware of the cause poorly vented bathroom fans and not well sealed fan fixtures lights wires etc.
Condensation determining the cause of attic mold.
In the vast majority of cases the mold growth is caused by condensation.
Uniform black mold growth on attic sheathing.
Mold usually causes a musty odor and may cause staining that may be black brown gray white yellow or green.
When moisture condenses on plywood roof sheathing repeatedly or continuously the wood will turn black.
In our roof interior attic photo at left you can see antique roof framing along with black stains and probably some mold growth from a long history of roof leaks.
This occurs when the temperature of the sheathing drops below the dew point creating a thin layer of moisture on the substrate.