Top Common Roofing Mistakes

The roof on your home is the essential structure that protects your family from all the outside elements. It is also one of the more expensive investments you will make, which means roof work needs to be done right.

In this article, we share with you some of the most common roofing workmanship mistakes we find when done by homeowners and even some roofing contractors.

You can avoid expensive repairs and see a return on your investment by knowing what to look for from the get-go.

DO-IT-YOURSELF ROOFING MISTAKES

Many homeowners will choose to replace or repair their roofs themselves to save some money. Unfortunately, common mistakes are easy to make, and fixing your own roof can end up costing you more money in the end all while decreasing the value of your home.

Here we’ll list some of these common DYI roofing mistakes.

FOUNDATION, SHINGLES, AND VENTILATION

FOUNDATION SUPPORT

Roof sheathing, also known as roof decking, is the foundation of your roof. Many people forget to check sheathing for weakness. An important thing to always consider is possible water damage. Using ice and water shields that protect from ice melting and seeping through the roof is something that is often forgotten.  The most common areas of your roof that ice and water shield are needed are the eaves and valleys where ice formation is easily formed. 

SHINGLE INSTALLATION

The biggest mistake we find when homeowners do their own roofing is improper shingle installation. It’s important to remove old shingles and not just cover them with new shingles. It may be easier, but keeping old shingles creates more places for moisture to collect which ends up being a big problem.  An even bigger issue lies when not removing the existing roofing materials (shingles) is the ability to inspect the roof decking for deterioration or water damage.  

ROOF VENTILATION ISSUES

Does your attic have proper installation? Most people don’t know that improper attic ventilation can cause severe problems to the roof. This means if you are replacing your roof, you definitely want to install vents.  The location of these vents is SO IMPORTANT.  Your roof must have adequate intake (soffit vents typically) for the exhaust.  In short, your roof needs to breathe and it does that by drawing in fresh outside air through the soffit vents or “intake” and passes the fresh air over the roof decking and out the exhaust or typically, the ridge vent. (See image)

Attic fans are not a catch-all cure and often make the problem worse if the intake and exhaust measurement values are not calculated correctly and/or the attic fan is installed in the incorrect location on the roof. If your home doesn’t have soffit vents (ventilation behind and perpendicular to your gutters), then adding a ridge vent may not be a good decision and can actually make your roof ventilation issues worse. 

COMMON PROFESSIONAL ROOFING MISTAKES

Even professional roofers can make some common roofing mistakes. We are often called out to fix roofing work that’s been done improperly. The more you know about these, the more likely you’ll be able to stop work while it’s being done incorrectly. A point to keep in mind is that when a job is not done properly, you’ll need to have it fixed again, this constant work can decrease your roof’s lifespan.

Here are some of the most common ones we see.

ROOF STRIPS AND SHINGLES

STARTER STRIP ISSUES

Surprisingly, even the most seasoned professionals and contractors will make mistakes when it comes to the starter strip. We often find the starter strips are installed incorrectly or sometimes even missing completely. When this happens, you risk water infiltration at the eaves. You will also be able to notice the issue easily especially when high winds hit your roof and the shingles start to come off.

INCORRECT SHINGLES FOR SLOPE

Novice roofers will not realize that they need to use the right shingles to match your roof’s slope. There is a minimum slope for the majority of shingles, and very specific shingles must be used by the roofer.  Meaning… if you have a flat roof or even a low-pitched roof  2/12 or under, an asphalt shingle should not be used.  There are other alternatives to shingles that will give a nice aesthetic value without breaking the bank.  

SHINGLES OVERHANG

Shingles can blow off in high winds, and if they are installed at a short overhang, water can seep into the wood structure.  A shingle must overhang the eaves somewhere between 6mm and 10 mm. This roofing mistake can cost you a lot of money in roof repairs.

HIGH-QUALITY ROOFING MATERIAL

There’s more to roofing than choosing colors. Since the roof is the main protection that secures your home and family from the outdoor elements, high-quality roofing materials are a top priority.  At Trusted Veterans Restoration, we use the highest quality roofing products produced by the top 3 asphalt shingle manufacturers GAF, CertainTeed, and Owens Corning.  This also includes synthetic roof deck underlayment, ice/water leak barriers, starter strip shingles, hip at ridge cap shingles, proper ventilation, premium architectural Lifetime asphalt shingles, Lifetime boot collars……and more.

ROOFING CONTRACTORS WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE & SATISFACTION

We do more than just come out to your home and fix or build you a new roof. Our company operates on principles of trust, respect, and commitment, which translates into exceptional customer service. It’s important to us that you feel confident in our team and the products we use to give you the best roofing system possible.  

Whether it’s time to replace a new roof, help with storm damage, fixing leaks, or repairing any other damage, we bring the experience along with the kind of service that makes you feel like you’re a member of our own family. We even work with your insurance company to get you the roof your family deserves.