If a less than reputable roofer installed your current roof, and they cut corners to try to finish the job faster or lower their installation costs, you’re the one left to pick up the pieces. The frustration and hassle of roof leaks alone can drive you to take the time needed to find a reliable roofing company you can trust with roof repairs or replacement.
Read on to learn what to look for to verify your current roof wasn’t installed properly (and what to do about it!).
Help! My Roof Wasn’t Installed Properly!
Common roofing mistakes and shoddy workmanship can lead to costly repairs.
If you do a simple visual inspection of your attic and find water in it, unhealthy mold can result — and spread quickly. Not only that, but you may have just uncovered the fact that your current roof wasn’t installed properly. Here are some additional signs to look for:
1. Shingle Alignment
An easy way to spot a poorly installed roof is to look at how the roof shingles line up. If they are noticeably misaligned, it will make your roof look sloppy, and can also impact the amount of protective coverage it delivers. Cracks and gaps between misaligned roof shingles invite water to come in and damage your roof and roof deck — and eventually invade your home. Not good!
2. No Roof Ridge Cap
A ridge cap is a special shingle that is designed for the harsh wind that hits the ridge of your roof. It’s not only thicker than a regular shingle, but also comes pre-bent. If a roof is installed without one, it makes your home more vulnerable to damage. It’s an expensive mistake!
3. Lack of a Drip Edge
A drip edge is usually made of aluminum, and it’s typically installed at the very edge of your roof. Its job is to redirect moisture away from your home’s walls and into your gutter. If a contractor doesn’t install a drip edge, water will likely seep up under your roof shingles and cause damage. A drip edge also protects your roof from wind-driven rain and keeps the rain from getting under your roof.
4. Improper Installation Around Solar Panels and Skylights
There is a right way and wrong way to install solar panels and skylights! Clearly, the holes or penetrations they need to be installed are vital, but they can create vulnerabilities if done incorrectly. If they were installed improperly, you may end up with roof leaks, water damage to your home, and possibly the voiding of warranties from the roofing manufacturer and the original roof installation company.
5. Not Removing Previous Roofing Materials
Placing new roof shingles over existing ones is one of the biggest mistakes in the roofing industry. When roofers place new materials over old ones, your roof will deteriorate or incur damage quicker than if the old roofing shingles were removed first.
6. Reusing Previous Materials — Like Flashing
Flashing is a thin material (usually made of aluminum) and it helps prevent water damage and leaks in your roof, vents, chimney, and skylights. A common roofing installation mistake is reusing the old flashing. Even if it’s in good condition, flashing should be replaced each time you get a new roof. Reusing old flashing increases the possibility that you’ll suffer the consequences of a roof leak.
6. Incorrect Nail Placement
Nails should be placed under the top layer of shingles when a roof is installed. If nails are exposed, they tend to corrode and create holes in your shingles that open the door to moisture and wind damage to your roof.
7. Incorrect Nail Length
Nails should go deep into your decking to securely hold your roof shingles in place over the years. Each shingle style requires the use of a specific nail length. When contractors choose an improper nail length, it increases the risk of shingles loosening, and leads to them possibly shifting, which lowers your roof’s lifespan.
8. Not Following Manufacturer’s Guidelines
The materials that make up your roofing system come with specific guidelines for their installation. When roofing companies ignore the instructions from the manufacturers, it can cause the components not to function as they should. This leads to problems over time. When warranties are part of the equation, if the roofing company doesn’t install your roof properly, it can cause the warranty to be voided.
9. Not Adding an Underlayment
An underlayment is a water-resistant barrier on which your roof is built. It protects your home from water intrusion and increases the lifespan of your roof. So if the roofing contractor who installed your current roof applied roofing directly to the wooden deck of your roof, and skipped the installation of an underlayment, you’re missing out on this waterproof barrier, and your home is at risk of damage.
10. Ignoring the Slope of Your Roof
It’s common for some roofing companies to assume what they do on one roof will work on another roof. That’s far from the truth. Your home’s roof slope needs to be factored into the equation when you get a new roof. Low slope roofing materials differ from higher pitch roofing materials. If a roofing company mixes the two up, it can open the door to water infiltration and damage.
11. Failure to Get a Roofing Permit
Roofing permits ensure you get a roof that is safe and follows local building codes.
Get Expert Roof Installation You Can Trust!
You deserve long-lasting, attractive roofing that gives you confidence in your home’s protection. At Christian Brothers Roofing, we install roofing systems with such attention to detail that manufacturers use our work as examples for other roofing companies.
Take a moment to learn more about our roofing services.
