When a roofing contractor makes mistakes while installing your roof, problems will occur over time. Poor workmanship can lead to damage, hassles, and costly repairs.
Without a strong roof, your home won’t be fully protected from high winds and storms. Hiring a reputable roofing contractor (like Best Choice Roofing) to accurately install your roof is vital to your home’s protection.
Read on to discover the signs that your roof wasn’t installed properly and learn how to ensure that doesn’t happen again.
How to Know if Your Roof Was Not Installed Properly
1. Missing shingles
Shingles are the most crucial component in your roofing system and make up your roof structure. Missing shingles leave your most significant investment at risk of costly damage and are a sure sign your roof was not installed correctly. Your roofer should be experienced enough to ensure your roof is fully covered with shingles.
2. Improper shingle alignment
A quick way to determine if you have a poorly installed roof is to notice how the roof shingles line up. If they aren’t aligned well, they tend to look sloppy, which indicates that they won’t provide the protective coverage they were designed to deliver. If there are cracks or gaps between misaligned roof shingles, moisture penetration could damage your roof and roof deck.
3. The previous roof was left intact (under your new roofing)
If your roofer installed your current roof on top of your old roof, your new roof will likely suffer damage faster than if your old roofing was removed. Installing new roof shingles over old ones is one of the biggest mistakes in the roofing industry, and it’s a costly one!
4. Incorrect nail length or placement
If you notice missing shingles after a storm, it may be due to incorrect nail length or placement. Proper nailing techniques are vital to your roof’s performance. Specific nails should be used for each type of roofing shingle. If your shingles look detached or are hanging askew, your roof was likely not installed properly and should be inspected. Good roofing professionals nail your shingles with attention to detail and prevent excess overhang. Without the proper use of nails, your roof shingles can become damaged or be removed during storms or high winds.
5. Poor attic ventilation
Your attic should be adequately vented through ridge vents and roof soffits. A poorly ventilated attic can cause your roof to age faster than it should. Moisture accumulation in your attic can cause flashing to rust, resulting in damaging leaks. Excessive moisture also promotes mold and mildew growth under your shingles, causing them to rot.
If you spot ice dams on your roof during the winter, it indicates your attic isn’t properly ventilated. If your attic is sweltering in the summer, it’s not ventilated well enough. Adequate attic ventilation is one of the primary components you need for your roof to perform as it was designed for its lifespan. If a roofing contractor skips this step, there are problems ahead.
6. Lack of a drip edge
A drip edge is a metal flashing installed at the edges of your roof to control the flow of water away from the fascia and protect your underlying roof components. Your drip edge extends beyond the sides of your roof and has a small metal overhang bent away from the fascia. If your roofer didn’t install a drip edge, water may end up beneath your shingles and may cause damage to your home.
7. No roof ridge cap
Ridge caps allow air to flow through your attic, and they protect your home from damage. This essential roofing component must be properly installed and maintained to block moisture from seeping into your home. If installers use the wrong nails or shorter nails to secure the ridge cap to your home, it will leak.
8. Unsecured flashing
Flashing is the thin steel material installed near chimneys, vents, and skylights. If it is pulling up from your roof, it likely wasn’t installed properly. If your roofing isn’t well sealed around your solar panels, skylights, vents, or chimneys, your home is at risk of moisture intrusion, and costly repairs are likely just ahead.
9. Rotted roof decking
A rotting roof can be dangerous. It could collapse in on itself and injure you and your loved ones. If your roof wasn’t installed correctly and moisture has penetrated your decking to the point that it’s now rotting, it’s time for a replacement!
10. Non-uniform appearance
If your roof is installed correctly, it will have a uniform appearance. If you do a visual check and see patches that don’t look the same as the rest of your roof, you may have an improperly installed roofing system.
Get Trustworthy Roofing Installation
Knowing your home is protected gives you peace of mind amid the storms. With over 60,000 successful roofing projects under our belt, you can trust Best Choice Roofing to give you the best roofing installation with a customer-first approach.
When your roof replacement is complete, you’ll enjoy your home’s updated curb appeal and rest at ease that your roof was installed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines by an experienced, well-trained team of professionals.
Take a moment to learn more about our roofing services.
