When having a new roof installed on your Charlotte, North Carolina home, you want to be sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. If your roof is installed correctly, you will have peace of mind that it will last for a long time and protect the inside of your home from water damage and other potential hazards. However, if the installation doesn’t go according to plan, it can spell disaster for both your roof and home.
Our team at Liberty Roofworks wants our clients to have a functional understanding of why proper roof installation matters and what sort of factors can negatively affect the installation process. This allows our clients to always make informed decisions regarding their roofs. In this spirit, here are some of the most common reasons for an improperly installed roof, as well as an overview of why proper roof installation is so important.
What Does it Mean for a Roof to be Installed Improperly?
If a roof is considered improperly installed, it means the person that worked on the installation used improper roofing techniques, resulting in a loss of function of the roof. If even one roof component is put into place incorrectly, the roof is improperly installed and will require repairs to avoid the issues that will inevitably arise.
Roof installation is just as common in newly built homes as in out-of-date roofs that require replacing. It’s all about how everything goes during the installation process. If the roofers do everything right the first time, your roof should remain in good condition for many years.
4 Reasons Why a Roof Maybe Improperly Installed
If you know what sort of installation issues are likely to lead to problems later on, you’ll be better equipped to avoid them on installation day. Luckily, most installation errors are simple to explain. Here are four of the most common reasons why a roof ends up improperly installed.
1. Bad Ventilation in the Attic
Of all the parts of the roof of your Charlotte, North Carolina home, the attic ventilation system is one of the most important. If the attic is not ventilating air properly, it can lead to serious damage further down the line. For this reason, it’s vital to account for attic ventilation when installing a new roof.
With improper ventilation, hot and cold air can get trapped under the roof, and this temperature irregularity can shorten your roof’s lifespan significantly. Most manufacturer’s warranties will not cover repairs for a roof without proper attic ventilation. Ensuring the attic has adequate airflow is necessary to prevent this sort of early onset roof failure.
2. Inclement Weather
Roofing repair is a temperamental practice that requires very specific weather conditions to be done correctly. Various factors regarding the weather and climate have a huge impact on how roofing materials behave, so roof installation should only be performed when the circumstances permit. Otherwise, it will just lead to major problems down the line.
On a particularly cold day, roofing shingles are quite resistant to manipulation and are likely to fracture from normal use. The temperature needs to be warm enough that the shingles will be malleable but not so hot that it causes the roofers extreme discomfort.
Even more important is moisture. It is never advisable to do roofing work in the rain or snow, as this will quickly lead to water damage in the interior of the home. Roof repair should always be performed in dry conditions.
3. Incorrect Nail Installation
Correct nail installation is crucial to maintaining the integrity of your roof. If the nails are improperly affixed, the shingles won’t hold, and your home’s attic and interior will be vulnerable to leaks. You can tell how well the nails were installed by looking at the way the heads stick out. If they’re lying sideways, that’s a clear sign that the shingles aren’t securely affixed, and your roof will need repairs. Roofing nails should be driven into the wood in a straight line to ensure they will hold firmly.
Besides the consequence of a loss of function, placing the roofing nails incorrectly will normally void your roofs manufacturer’s warranty, meaning you’d have to cover the repairs out of pocket.
4. Lacking Quality of Craftsmanship in General
A roofer who doesn’t care enough to do the job correctly will always turn out poor quality work. Unfortunately, that roofer’s attitude is going to show through in the results of their labor. Roofing companies who are known for taking shortcuts, cutting costs, and producing low-quality results should always be avoided.
Before hiring a roofing company, ask questions. Ask to see pictures of previous jobs. Ask to see their licenses and certifications. You should also check out their reviews online to see what former customers are saying about them.
To protect your home from the consequences of poor craftsmanship, make sure to hire roofers from a reputable company that you know you can trust. At Liberty Roofworks, we always treat our clients’ homes with respect and care, and we take pride in the quality of the work we put out at the end of the day.
4 Reasons You Should Care About the Quality of Your Roof’s Installation
The roof is one of the most important parts of your home. If it does not function properly, it leaves you and your family exposed to the elements and makes the interior of your home vulnerable to damage. As such, your roof must be properly installed. Here are four of the most common reasons proper roof installation should matter to you.
1. To Avoid Future Leaks
To put it simply enough, when your roof is installed correctly, it will do the job that it’s intended to do. In this case, a properly installed roof will protect your home’s interior from water damage and keep you and your family safe from the elements. A poorly constructed roof full of structural flaws and weak points will be incredibly vulnerable to leaks. Not only does this put your home and possessions at risk, but it will also cost you a fortune when it comes to repairs.
2. To Preserve the Life Expectancy of Your Roof
Depending on the materials you chose, you should be able to expect your new roof to last for between 25 and 50 years. A new roof is not a cheap commodity, so you want to make sure you get as much use as possible out of your roof for your money.
However, poor roof installation can drastically shorten your roof’s life expectancy and end up costing you a pretty penny in repairs. Always be sure to hire roofers you trust, so you know your roof will last for as long as possible.
3. To Save Money on Inevitable Repairs
We cannot stress enough the high cost of roofing installation and repair work. After spending a large sum of money on a roof you thought would last for another 50 years, the last thing you want to hear is that you have to spend even more of your hard-earned cash on repairs.
Hiring a trustworthy roofing company with a track record of excellent results is your first defense. Even if it seems pricey at first, the cost of roofing work done correctly pales in comparison to the amount you’d spend to undo a botched job.
4. To Maintain the Integrity of Your Manufacturer’s Warranty
While you might feel that any problems that arise along the way can be sorted out through the manufacturer’s warranty, there are a lot of reasons why the manufacturer may choose not to honor it. Improper installation is the number one reason for a roof warranty to be voided. To protect your coverage, you’ll need to make sure everything goes smoothly during the process.
How Can I Make Sure My Roof is Properly Installed?
Now that you’re familiar with the potential consequences of cutting corners when installing the roof, you’re surely wondering how you can make sure you never end up in that situation. Well, the best way to ensure that any roofing work you need to be done is done the first time properly is to always hire a roofing company you trust.
At Liberty Roofworks, we understand the importance of quality roofing work done right. We know what can happen when just the slightest thing goes wrong with a roof installation project, and so we always take extra care to ensure that every step is executed according to the proper roofing techniques.
Conclusion
There are several reasons why a roof could end up improperly installed and end up causing a multitude of problems in the future. However, by hiring skilled roofers who know how to avoid these pitfalls, like our team at Liberty Roofworks, you can make sure your roof is installed well enough to last for the long haul.