Just like with everything in life, when we have something done we hope it is done correctly the first time around. Roofs are an expensive and necessary investment and even professional roofing companies may slip up from time to time with an error. Some roofing contractors or scammers are lazy and may do a rush job cutting corners along the way. As a homeowner, it is important to be aware of the quality of your roof installation and know how to spot an incorrect installation. Today’s article is all about what the signs are of an improper roof installation and what to do if you notice them on your roof.
Sliding and damaged shingles
If you have a shingle roof installed and you spot any cracked, lifted, or damaged shingles right after the installation. the job was not done correctly and you should call back your roofing company and explain the situation. In some situations, you may even notice the shingles sliding and shifting positions. Some roofs that are steeper or have a unique shape have a higher chance of this happening and most of the time it is not due to installation error, if this does happen it is still important to contact your roofing company about it. If your roof does not fall under one of those two categories and you spot sliding shingles, it is almost always a sign of improper installation and needs to be addressed right away.
Nails poking out of the roof
Another sign of a poorly installed roof is seeing nails that are poking out of your roof. The nails are what keep the roof in place and it is not uncommon for one or two nails to have a flaw here and there but if there are more than that, then you have an improper installation on your hands.
If you spot nails sticking out of your roof it is often a sign of there being either too much pressure or not enough pressure used from the roofer. If you notice a pattern of incorrectly installed or lifted nails then you should definitely contact your roofer so that they can come out and fix it for you.
Poor attic ventilation
Newer homeowners especially often overlook the importance of a properly ventilated attic. With roofing, most people think the work stops at the top of the roof when in reality, the attic plays a huge part. The key to a long-lasting roof is an attic that is ventilated correctly which is why it’s important to know how to check just that.
The only real way to check the status of your attic ventilation is to actually go inside your attic. If you notice that it is extremely hot during the warmer months or does not change with the changes in temperature quickly, then it is not properly ventilated. You may also see some rotting and visible damage on the decking or ceiling of your attic. If you encounter any of these things you have a poorly ventilated attic and it should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
A non-uniform looking roof
Another sign of a poorly done roof installation is that it does not all look the same. If you notice a section or even an entire side of your roof that looks different from the rest, you should contact your roofing company. Some things to look for include a curved roofline, shingles being different colors, and even different materials or reusing old ones.
Some of these factors only affect the aesthetic, or visual appearance of your roof and nothing else. While this may not seem like a big deal you should still contact your roofing company as roof work is not cheap and you deserve to be left with a quality finished product. Aesthetic issues may also come back to haunt you should you try to sell your home down the line as buyers will be less likely to consider your home.
Things such as a curved roofline and different materials being used along with old ones being reused are never okay. A sagging roofline is oftentimes an indicator that there may be something wrong with your roof decking which is key to a long-lasting roof. If multiple different materials are used then the lifespan of your roof will likely vary by area which is not ideal and will oftentimes result in you needing a new replacement much sooner than you should. Finally, none of your prior roofing material including flashing and other roofing materials should be reused as it puts you at a higher risk of damage occurring down the line.
Any reputable roofing company out there will not have any of these issues. If you do notice any of these signs on your roof it is an indicator that your roofer cut some major corners and overall did a botched roof job. Remember, a roof is an investment and you deserve to get the most out of it. It is always important to advocate for yourself so that you are happy with the finished product.
What to look for in a roofer
We always suggest working with a roofing company that has good reviews, lots of experience, and the proper licenses and certifications to minimize the risk of any issues occurring. It is also important that you feel comfortable talking to your roofer and never get intimated. Any roofing professional should be more than willing to answer your questions and explain what they will be doing to your roof.
The right roofer will perform a full inspection of your current roof and go over their findings with you along with what your options are. When having a roof installed make sure it is never done so in the rain or snow as the chance of material damage occurring is much higher. Any reputable roofer will not work in these conditions and if a roofer does, it is a red flag and should be avoided. We have mentioned this before on our Learning Hub, but we want to mention it again. When it comes to roofing you pretty much always get what you pay for. It may seem tempting to go with the roofer who is offering an amazingly low price, but we would suggest you go another route. Most of the time the price is so cheap because corners are cut and important steps are ignored entirely meaning you will have issues with your roof costing you even more money. These companies also often do not take accountability for their work resulting in poor to no customer service and never coming back to fix their mistakes. It is always worth it to go with a reasonably priced company over the extremely cheap one.
Wrapping it up
As a homeowner, it is so important to educate yourself about roofing so that you can tell when your roof installation is done incorrectly and advocate for yourself. Reading this article is one good way to do so and we hope you feel more comfortable about knowing what signs to look for in a recent installation. Our Learning Hub is a great place to go if you want to learn more about the world of roofing. We post fresh content every single week on a variety of different topics.
Like we said before, some mistakes are inevitable which is understandable. What sets the good roofers that made an accidental mistake apart from the scammers is how they handle the situation. Any reputable roofing company will have warranties in place and gladly come out to repair their mistake without giving you any hassle. If you do call your roofer right after installation with a complaint or issue and they refuse to fix it or argue with you, they are not the kind of people you want to work on your home.
When it comes to roof work, any irregularities such as damage or signs of improper installation should be addressed right away. Failure to do so may result in further damage occurring and it never ends well. With roofing, you never want to put anything off.
We are here to help!
At Liberty Roofworks we have over twenty years of professional roofing experience and are equipped to handle virtually any roofing scenario that is thrown our way. Our services range from repairs to full-on roof installations and we have experience working with a wide variety of different roof types with various roofing materials.
Are you in need of any roof work? Contact us today and we will happily send out one of our certified and licensed roofing contractors to perform an inspection and let you know what your options are. We value customer service which is why we are happy to answer any questions you may have. We also keep our customers involved throughout the entire roof work process, updating them regularly on what has been done and what still needs to be addressed. With us, roofing is easy and stress-free!