4 Roof Installation Problems You Can Spot Yourself

When it comes to something as important as your roof, it’s a good idea to bring in specialized inspectors who know what problems to look for and what to do about them.  However, there are also several roof problems that you don’t need an expert’s eye to spot.  Some of these problems develop over time, but in many cases a bad replacement or roof installation can leave behind some serious problems.  So if you get a new roof, give it a quick inspection yourself and check for the following problems.

1. Poor Ventilation

A roof needs to have a solid ventilation system that prevents the attic from becoming too hot or humid.  Hot air trapped in the attic can make it harder on your air conditioner and drive up your electricity bill, and humid air can cause condensation and allow mold and insect infestations to thrive.  A good roof ventilation system will allow air to circulate without letting rainwater or snow melt to get inside, so check your attic to see if it’s too hot or humid and check the vent openings for water stains.

2. Shiners

“Shiners” are nails that peek out from underneath the shingles.  They get that name because the nail heads shine when sunlight hits them at just the right angle.  They can sometimes be a problem because nails are supposed to go on directly underneath the bottom edge of the shingles above them, and in some cases water can leak in around the nails and get into your attic space.  Good roofing companies will seal shiners, repair that part of the roof, or avoid causing shiners in the first place.

3. Overused Sealant

Too much sealant on the roof can actually be a bad thing.  Flashing is a metal seal around the joint where roofs meet walls and other roof angles, and when roofers add flashing they use a sealant to make sure water can’t soak in around the edges.  If a roofer applies too much sealant, it can dry out and crack, creating narrow paths that water can enter through.  The best treatment is to get a roofing company to scrape away the old sealant and apply a new, thinner layer.

4. Missing Drip Edge

Drip edges are a required part of modern roof installations.  A drip edge is a strip of rustproof metal that covers the bottom edges of a roof and go behind the shingles and the gutters to protect the wood from soaking up any rainwater or snowmelt.  Inexperienced and unscrupulous roofers will sometimes leave the drip edge off, and this one mistake could potentially shorten your roof’s lifespan by decades.

A good roof installation should last decades or longer depending on the materials, but a bad installation can cause serious structural damage or allow mold and unwelcome guests to thrive.  That’s why it’s good to give a new roof your personal inspection and to check for issues like ventilation, shiners, and drip edges.  And if you need a reliable contractor to repair your roof or install it right the first time you can rely on Wilkinson Roofing.