Even the pros can make roofing mistakes if they are not careful. As with any project, you cannot always predict the outcome, and sometimes, even the best efforts still come up short. The thing is that roofing contractors should endeavor to avoid mistakes that can cause damage to a homeowner’s home and prove costly to repair or replace. Every client wants the best service and top-notch work from their roofing contractor. Most homeowners know very little about roofing, but it helps to be mindful of some common pitfalls that could occur when taking on a roofing installation project. Here’s a look at some roofing mistakes that even the pros cause.
Incorrect Shingles for Hips and Ridges
Your home’s protective cover is the roof, and it is entirely exposed to the elements-wind, rain, hail, snow, ice, and sunlight. The abuse from weather conditions can be brutal and stresses your roof, and it’s the hips and ridges of your roof that tends to suffer the most. They are at the mercy of intense wind speeds and get the most battering from the elements every day. Specialty shingles are typically recommended for hips and ridges, and compared to regular shingles, they are thicker and boast greater durability. Any neglect by your roofer to install these specialty shingles could mean sooner leaks than you’d typically expect.
Improper Flashing Installation
The flashing is a critical performer in your roofing system and is typically installed where a roof’s slope meets the siding. Flashing is also useful for sealing chimneys or other kinds of masonry. Flashing is intended to protect the vulnerable sections of your roof, and if it’s installed incorrectly, leaks can occur. Your roof’s lower section and your attic could become damaged due to improper flashing installation by roofers.
No Cricket Over The Chimney
A roof’s design can cause water accumulation in a particular section of the roof, but this can be avoided if the roofer takes the necessary precautions. For instance, as water travels down the slope of your roof, it can pool behind the chimney and settle where water shouldn’t be and further stresses the chimney-roof seam. This can be avoided with a carefully placed roof cricket, a small triangle or V-shaped ridge that diverts by splitting the water down each side. If a roof cricket is not installed, the roofer creates an increased risk of a leak.
Incorrect Installation of Starter Course
At the edge of a roof that uses shingles is the starter course, which is the first row of shingles that are installed. This area has a high risk of leakage and must be safeguarded to protect the roof and sections below. To prevent water penetration, a roofer should install a double-layered starter course, three-tab shingles minus the bottom 5, or the appropriate width starter strip. Staggering the first row of shingles should effectively keep water at bay, preventing leakage.
Shingles Not Attached Properly
Roofing installation is incomplete without securely fastening the shingles. It’s not sufficient to simply keep the shingle in place, but they have to be attached to the roof deck in a manner that limits the risk of damage later on. Shingles need to lay flat against the roof to perform efficiently and effectively. The roofer must stick to the manufacturer’s instructions and building codes when fastening shingles to the roof deck. Take laminate shingles, for example, the “common bond” nailing area must be properly targeted with a nail gun to give the kind of wind performance the shingle manufacturer marketed.
For the right team of roofing professionals that will deliver quality work every time, Sunrise Exterior Inc is happy to help you with your next roofing project. We aim to have satisfied customers at the end of each roofing project. Let us be your trusted roofing contractors for your project.
