INTRODUCTION
Replacing your roof is an investment you only want to make once. The challenge is that many of the most important elements of a roof installation are hidden. Only the roof shingles are visible from the outside, which means that evaluating a roof installation just by looking at it, is not effective. This Report is designed to help you understand common roofing mistakes and shortcuts that many roofers make and how you can avoid them.
MISTAKE #1 INCORRECT NAILING
A common mistake that leads to roof shingle damage is the use of improper nailing technique. We often remove damaged shingles where too few nails were used or the nails were installed too high. The reason roofers do this is because it’s cheaper, easier, and faster to install shingles in this manner. The average homeowner will have no idea that their shingles are poorly nailed until it’s too late. The right answer is to use correct nailing the first time!
MISTAKE #2 LACK OF PROTECTIVE PRODUCTS
Most homeowners do not realize that the majority of roof protection is actually hidden and out of sight. This means that it’s impossible to detect whether a roof is properly or poorly installed from the ground. Why would a roofer take shortcuts? Simple. It’s cheaper and you would never know the difference. The key here is to make sure you hire a roofer who is very thorough and clearly explains all the steps they are taking. This include, starter strip, high quality ice and water barrier, synthetic underlayment, full perimeter flashing, and many other things. Saving a few dollars here will always cost you in the long run.
MISTAKE #3 OVERLAYING
If your roofer suggests and overlay… RUN! There is absolutely no good reason to have more shingles installed on top of your old shingles. It voids the warranty of any reasonable roofing manufacturer, it hides any existing damage, and it traps heat which prematurely destroys shingles. If this option is suggested or even discussed by your roofer, then it’s time to get a new roofer! Spend a little extra money and get a whole lot more life out of your roof, plus a transferable warranty which adds resale value.
MISTAKE #4 NO NAILING STRIP
A key missing element of cheap roof shingles is a that they don’t have a good nailing strip. A low quality nailing strip leads to ripping, tearing, and blow-off. The best nailing strip on the market is the SureStart strip by Owens Corning. This high quality material is incredibly durable and better protects your roof against wind damage for years and years. Once again, this is an element of good roofing practice that you might not know about, so make sure your roofer is fully aware.
MISTAKE #5 POOR FOLLOW-THROUGH
The last frustrating shortcut that roofers are infamous for is poor communication and follow-through. Nobody is perfect, but the real test of a quality company is their commitment to making things right! Do yourself a favor and hire a professional roofing contractor who has the staff and capability to handle all of your inquiries before, during, and after your roofing project. This includes no-pressure estimates, good communication, and thorough clean-up after the project. You deserve a great experience!
SUMMARY
Whether you have wind or hail damage or it’s just time for a new roof, the most important decision you can make is choosing the right partner in the process. Making a poor decision could leave you in worse shape than you were before. We are Rhino-Back Roofing and we know we are the right partner for you!
Rhino-Back roofing is:
- 5-star rated on all websites
- Local to Connecticut
- Family-owned
- Changing what people expect from contractors