Your home’s roof is an essential part of the building to protect that inside from nature – especially weather. Heavy rains, strong winds, hail, and snow all impact your roof throughout the year, so it’s crucial that the roof is installed correctly and maintained well. Unfortunately, even professional roofers can make mistakes that lead to detrimental effects. Keep reading for roofing mistakes we’ve seen by pros – and what you can do to avoid them.
How Can You Tell If Your Roof Was Done Incorrectly
Using the Wrong Shingles
Using the right materials for the job is critical, but even pros can make a mistake here. Certain parts of the roof may require special shingles instead of the ones being used over the bulk of the roof.
Attaching the Shingles Incorrectly
Shingles are put in place with a nail gun. If the pressure of the nail gun is too high, the nails can go right through the shingle, damaging it. The nails also need to have a large enough head that they hold the shingles in place securely.
Improperly Installed Flashing
Flashing helps protect your roof from water, so if it’s not installed correctly, you’ll likely experience a few leaks. The water from these leaks can then damage the roof structure and the attic.
Incorrectly Installing the Starter Course
A starter course is a sort of underlayer that sits below the visible shingles. The starter course is made of a different type of shingle that aims to prevent water from entering. A correctly installed starter course will be double-layered and staggered.
No Attic Ventilation
Attic ventilation is a key part of keeping the attic – and the rest of the house – in good shape with a new roof. Ventilation allows you to maintain the temperature and moisture levels in the home.
No Attic Insulation
Along with ventilation, the attic should also have adequate insulation. This insulation helps to keep interior temperatures consistent. Without it, snow sitting on the roof can easily drop the temperatures inside.
No Leak Barriers
Leak barriers should be installed in areas of the roof that are particularly susceptible to leaking. A great roofer will be able to tell where that will be and will install high-quality leak barriers to preserve the life of your roof.
Mismatching Shingles
A roofing contractor should order enough shingles for the job at one time from the same manufacturer. Ideally, these will all be from the same lot as well. Even a few mismatched shingles can negatively impact the overall look of your roof and home.
Leave all the hard work to the roofers and head straight to Bay State Exteriors. As the local experts in roofing, they’ll make sure to use the proper materials and install them quickly and efficiently. Call today for a consultation or quote!