It’s easy to take the roof over our heads for granted—that is, until the roof over our heads needs to be replaced. It’s a big job and can be a good investment, but it can turn into a stress-inducing disaster if the job isn’t done well. You may be able to do the work yourself, but most people will need to seek help from residential roofing experts.
Finding someone who has decades of experience and pride in craftsmanship will help you avoid many of the potential problems that can occur while replacing a roof yourself or with a company that hasn’t had enough experience or training.
Starter Shingles Installed Incorrectly
Starter shingles go under the first row of shingles, and many people doing the job themselves might install these incorrectly or sometimes not at all. The starter shingles act as a barrier since the first row doesn’t have a shingle below it. The starter shingles are vital and protect from water that could invade the sheathing under the bottom shingles, and they’ll provide a straight line to cut shingles on.
Improper Material for the Slope
With a big variance in roof slopes and sometimes having multiple different slopes on one home, choosing a material that will protect the house properly is important. Differently angled slopes have different levels of water run-off. Choosing a material that doesn’t match the slope can leave that part of your roof a weak point and in danger of water damage.
Improper Use of Nails
Repairing a roof takes finesse. If too much pressure is applied, nails will be driven too far in and puncture the shingle mat. This could lead to weaker shingles that are susceptible to being torn off by the wind. If shingles aren’t nailed properly or have too few nails, shingles can slide out of position. There are many different ways to create problems when securing shingles with nails, and poor workmanship could potentially void your roofing warranty.
Insufficient or Improperly Installed Valley Metal
The roof valley is the part of the roof that is most likely to have a leak. This is where the water runoff flows, so the roof valley is hit the hardest with any water from rain or melting snow or ice. Therefore, a roof valley should have an ice and water shield installed, and/or a metal valley. If the metal flashing is either missing or not secured properly, the shield will have to be reinstalled and the roof re-shingled. Not securing material or using enough sealant can cause buckling and water leaks.
Sometimes the valley flashing can be installed incorrectly by amateur contractors or roofers. The flashing needs to be layered under the shingles, not on top of them. The U-shape of the metal should be facing the valley. Otherwise, water runoff might flow in a direction it shouldn’t and cause premature deterioration of the flashing or shingles.
Not Planning for Ice Dams
Not all homeowners need to plan ahead for this, but if you live in a cold climate, you know how much damage ice dams can cause. Without proper insulation, ice forms at the roofline and forces water under the shingles, creating a dam. By putting down an underlayer in the roof starting at the roofline and continuing for at least three feet, you will help add another layer of protection to avoid the damaging effects of melting ice water.
Not Allowing Ceilings or Attics to Vent
Not having adequate venting can cause major damage to your roof and roofing materials. Heat rises and hot air is full of moisture. That moisture causes condensation to build up and, over time, weaken the shingle material prematurely. When laying down shingles for your roof, it’s imperative that they are laid down to allow proper ventilation from your attic or ceilings.
Not Aligning Shingles Correctly
Laying the shingles improperly makes a poor roofing job easy to spot. If the shingles are misaligned, it just looks bad. If the butted joints aren’t on the same horizontal plane or if the cutout on three-tab shingles isn’t vertical, your roof won’t look aesthetically pleasing, and if the shingles have been improperly nailed, there’s potential for roof blow-off.
Incorrect Shingle Overhang
The shingles should overhang the eaves and the rakes by a minimum of an inch to an inch and a half. If drip edge flashing has been installed, then the edge of the shingle should hang over the roof between a half-inch and three-quarters of an inch. Too little overhang can allow water to seep into the fascia boards or into the rake boards. Too much overhang and there is potential for the shingles to blow off in high winds. An experienced roofer will ensure the correct placement of the shingles.
Incorrect Shingle Exposure
Shingle exposure is the uncovered part or exposed part of the shingle from the shingle placed above it. Not only will proper shingle exposure create a beautiful roof, but it will also provide optimal roof protection. There are many problems that can occur when laying shingles. If the shingles are layered too far apart, the exposure will be too wide, and there will be areas of the shingles that are now exposed to the elements that shouldn’t be. If the shingles are laid too close together, it can create an undesirable look and will waste materials. Moisture may also start collecting from water run-off if the shingle exposure is shortened and can also lead to them being blown off in high-speed winds.
It takes a lot of knowledge, training, and experience to complete a quality roof job that will last decades. Our residential roofing experts here at Interstate Roofing provide the highest quality roofing to homeowners. Interstate Roofing is proud to have earned the highest certification level and have more than 30 years of experience in roofing in the Portland and Vancouver areas. If you need help with roofing your home, we are happy to give you a free estimate. We look forward to working with you.