Photo of an asphalt roofing option built by McFall Residential Roofing of Gainesville.

Common Roofing Mistakes

Unfortunately, roofing mistakes can occur during the installation process, but problems can also happen after the project is completed. A competent roofer pays attention to details and takes extra steps to ensure the longevity of your new roof. This assures that the homeowner receives a high-quality-roofing job as well as a roof that will last the full-intended lifespan. You can always count on McFall Residential Roofing to identify and correct common roofing mistakes.

Signs of Roofing Mistakes

It is important to identify roofing mistakes early on before they can lead to bigger issues including water damage or weakening the structural integrity of your home. Early detection can prevent further damage to your home and save you thousands of dollars. Here are some of the elements of a roof that are important to check:

Parts of a Roof

It’s always recommended that you have your roof inspected by roofing professionals and ensure that your home isn’t at risk.

An Overheated Damp Attic

Your attic should be well ventilated so that your roof can last the full extent of its life. Excessive heat and moisture trapped in your attic can be detrimental to the house and the roof. Your house may need ventilators in the gables. We also recommend installing a ventilated ridge cap which is an excellent method of increasing attic ventilation. A well-ventilated attic will increase efficiency and promote a healthy roof for years to come.

Failure to Properly Clean Roof Before Installing Underlayment

A quality roofing job requires that the roof be extremely clean before any underlayment is installed. Debris caught underneath the underlayment prevents the shingles from lying flat. The underlayment could also be punctured by debris and ruin the watertight seal, causing your home to be unprotected from water damage. Be sure your roofer does not neglect this part of the installation process!

Improper Flashing Installation

Metal flashing needs to be installed around the chimney and in the valleys of your roof. Chimney flashing prevents leaks around your home’s chimney. Metal flashing in the valleys prevents erosion of shingles from any large amounts of running water in the valleys. The metal flashing has to be an appropriate length to accomplish this purpose.

Having Exposed Plywood

The edges of the plywood sheathing on your roof shouldn’t be exposed to the weather. This plywood should always be protected by drip edge molding
and a proper overhang of the shingles. If the plywood isn’t protected, it can suffer from water damage and threaten the stability of your roof.

Exposed Nail Heads

Pay close attention during the shingle nailing process. Exposed nail heads on your shingles indicate improper alignment or misplacement of the nails. The nails should be completely covered and kept dry by the next row of shingles. Using nails that are too short is a simple mistake that could turn disastrous, especially if the sheeting boards are a soft wood.

Improper Placement or Number of Nails

A reliable roofing contractor will always use the number of nails recommended for the wind conditions that are expected for that section of the country. More nails may be needed on steeper roofs. Because we serve Florida homeowners, McFall uses shingles that have a 130 mph wind warranty to better protect your home during storm season.

Different Shades of Color on Your Shingles

Imagine looking at your new roof and realizing that the shingles are different shades of color. The roofer possibly purchased the shingles at different dealers. Different batches of the same color can result in a slightly different shade. Some homeowners would consider this a disaster. This typically happens when you don’t purchase all of your shingles from the same place or the same dye lot.

Installing New Shingles Over Old Shingles

Choosing to install new shingles over old shingles to save money isn’t recommended for your roof. This may cause more weight than your roof’s framing can safely support. When you do this you also risk the chance of possibly covering rotting wood, further compromising the integrity of your roof. While you may not see the problem initially, you could end up paying a lot more to correct the issue rather than simply having a correct reroof done.

Concerned About Your Roof?

A new roof is an investment that should last its entire useful life. If your roof was installed recently by another company and you notice one or more of these mistakes, call McFall Roofing for a roof inspection.

Hiring a roofing company that takes pride in good workmanship assures that your new roof will give you many years of trouble-free service. McFall Residential Roofing is happy to diagnose problems and correct them to ensure that your roof protects you and your family.

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