9 Common Roofing Mistakes to Avoid
Your home requires a durable roof to keep out the weather elements. A good roof also improves your home’s value and appearance. However, the roof can only be helpful if you install and maintain it properly. Therefore, avoid the following roofing mistakes.
1. Reusing Old Flashing
Flashing is an important feature that protects a roof from moisture, especially around key places such as air vents or chimneys. If you reuse the old flashing, moisture can get into your home.
2. Covering Shingles Instead of Replacing
The proper method of repairing or replacing a roof is to eliminate all shingles and install new ones. However, you might be tempted to ask your contractor to overlay the new shingles on top of the existing ones. Unfortunately, overlaying shingles provide more space for mold, dirt, and moisture to accumulate.
3. Placing Nails in the Wrong Location
The roofing contractor must place nails in the exact location when fixing your roof. Nails placed in the wrong location reduce the structural integrity of the roof. Also, the nail heads must not be conspicuous but should be beneath the top layer of the roof shingles. Failure to properly cover the nails can cause corrosion and rust, which can cause the shingles to break down.
4. Incorrect Shingle Overhang at the Eaves
The shingle overhang at the eaves must have a specific size. If the overhang is larger than necessary, severe storms and winds can blow off the shingles. On the other hand, if the overhang is too small, water can infiltrate your roof deck and leak into your home. You can avoid the mistake by ensuring proper shingle installation and the inclusion of drip edge flashing to prevent water infiltration.
5. Improper or Missing Starter Shingles
Roofing contractors must lay the starter component of the shingles along the eaves. If an incorrect installation of starter shingles occurs, water will seep through the cutouts of the bottom shingles and into the roof deck.
6. Neglecting the Attic
Every part of your roof must work properly, including the attic. If the attic lacks ventilation, moisture will accumulate on your roof over time. The result will be premature damage to the roof and inefficient insulation, leading to high energy bills.
7. Installing Poor Quality or Mismatched Shingles
You might be tempted to buy the cheapest shingles in the market to reduce the cost of your roofing project. Alternatively, you may decide to get your roofing shingles from different sellers. While you may save some money in the short term, you will spend more money to repair or replace your roof in the long term.
Generally, manufacturers will produce shingles in batches, with each batch having specific characteristics. If you buy your shingles from multiple suppliers, you will end up using shingles with differing characteristics. The resulting mismatched shingles reduce the overall appeal of the roof.
Also, poor-quality materials may not withstand the harsh weather conditions in your area. This will reduce the durability of your roof and require frequent repairs or replacement.
8. Putting Off Roof Inspections and Maintenance
Failure to schedule regular roof inspection and maintenance can affect your roof’s durability and performance. Roofing inspections help to identify emerging problems and allow for early intervention. Furthermore, regular maintenance removes mold and other debris from your roof.
9. Failing to Hire a Professional Roofing Contractor
Not all homeowners have the expertise and experience to do roofing repairs and improvements. However, some homeowners think that they can save money by inspecting the roof and doing any necessary repairs.
DIY roof projects can cause further damage to your roof and reduce its lifespan. Even if you hire a roofing contractor, ensure that the contractor has the right reputation, tools, and experience to complete the job.
The roof is one of the most important parts of your home, and you should only let a professional work on the roof. Newman Roofing & Remodeling can install, repair, and replace roofs. Contact us to get started.
