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 Alternatively, you can also find what not to do
when engaging in roof repair, especially when you want to keep your
warranty valid, should you require a contractor.
How not to
re-roof your home
John Campbell, a roofer working for Patriot
Roofing, a roofing company in Washington, gives a brief examination
of a poor roofing job in this video.
In the video, Campbell explains that the roof he is standing on
started to leak ten years prior, and it was only built two years
before the leaks began. The roof has a two-over-twelve pitch,
meaning that it rises two inches for every twelve inches in width.
This roof is a relatively flat roof compared to other styles of
roofing.
“There are some things the last roofer did that voided all
warranties,” says Campbell as he begins his explanation.
The first problem Campbell points out is the use of only one layer
of underlayment. Roofing underlayment is a water-resistant or
waterproof material installed directly onto the roof deck. It is
applied prior to all other roofing materials, functioning as an
added layer of protection from severe weather. Campbell says that
roofs with such a low slope need to have more layers of underlayment
applied to prevent water damage, as the water does not drain away as
fast.
“The water will stay on the roof longer, and you need special
underlayment to maintain the manufacturer’s warranty,” says
Campbell.
Under the underlayment, Campbell points to the poor quality of
plywood attached to the roof. “A lot of this plywood, you can tell
that it’s been bad for a lot longer than ten years,” says Campbell.
Because of the already poor quality of the plywood, rain and water
have only served to worsen the quality of the roof. The lesson here
is to choose higher quality materials when building a roof to
prevent such problems later on, and to replace existing problematic
material altogether.
Campbell says the previous roofer probably used the older plywood to
save time, but that is a poor decision. It’s worth the extra time to
ensure that you use proper materials that are not already in bad
condition.
Another mistake to avoid concerns the chimney. Roofers usually
install a piece of chimney flashing when building a roof. Chimney
flashing is typically a layer of sheet metal installed to ensure
that the connection between the chimney and roof is watertight. In
the video, Campbell says the previous roofer did not install such
flashing, instead using torch down. Torch down is usually applied to
tar roofs, and not used for home repair. As a result of this
decision, water leaked in around the chimney as well.
Finally, Campbell pointed to multiple broken and twisted rafters
under the plywood. “When you see these broken rafters, you don’t
just go over the top of them - you need to replace them,” says
Campbell. While he cannot say for sure what happened to bend the
rafters, it seems likely that the previous roofer placed heavy
materials on top of them, causing them to bend and twist.
Campbell emphasizes that the roof in the video is only twelve years
old. For comparison, home roofs typically last at least twenty years
before needing to be replaced. Overall, roof repair should not be
taken as a quick job; otherwise you will need to repair the roof
much sooner than anticipated.
Installing
asphalt shingles: Five common mistakes to avoid
Another video source for problems to avoid comes
from Chris Lutz, a roofer from Athens, Georgia. Lutz offers a few
tips to avoid problems when installing asphalt shingles on a roof.
The first mistake to avoid involves roofing nails. “Most common
among these mistakes is placing the nail too high on the shingle,”
says Lutz.
[to top of second column] |
 Lutz suggests using four nails for a top shingle,
which, when placed in the right spot, also secure the shingle
beneath it. That shingle is also fastened with four nails, securing
the one beneath it, and so on. Placing the nail too high on a
shingle means the layers beneath it are not fastened as well.
The second mistake to avoid is adding shingles to a
roof that is too low. Lutz says that shingles are designed for roofs
with a pitch greater than two-over-twelve. “The slower the water is
moving off of your roof, the more likely you are to have problems,”
says Lutz.
Roofs with such a low pitch are prone to slow drainage of water. As
a result, it is possible for water to shift as it drains, leaking
back under nearby shingles, and leading to problems in the future.
Most experts recommend using asphalt shingles for roofs with a pitch
of at least four-over-twelve instead.
A third mistake involves pipe flashing, which works the same as
chimney flashing. Lutz says a common mistake he sees is when nails
are used too close to pipe flashing. As a result, the nails can
damage the flashing, causing small leaks in the material. Lutz
suggests using a gasket screw instead of a nail to secure such
material.
A fourth mistake involves shingles that are hanging too far over the
edge of a roof. “While they might have looked okay at the time that
they were applied, shingles that are left to overhang the roof more
than an inch and a half are prone to do some serious sagging,” says
Lutz. These shingles will also crack over time, leading to leaks and
rotting of material.
The final mistake to avoid concerns shingles and patterns. Lutz says
that applying shingles in a racking pattern works fine for three-tab
shingles, but not for architectural shingles. Lutz says that given
enough time, the shingles will develop cracks along the seams,
leading to premature leaks and damage.
Replacing or repairing a roof comes with a long list of problems.
But if you check a few easy-to-find resources, you can learn what
sort of problems to avoid, for plenty of easy decisions.
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You can find a reputable roofer through these local
businesses:
Collins Roofing
Josh Collins of Atlanta
Ph. 309-530-2698
AAA Windows, Siding, Doors
Larry Adams
230 S. Logan in Lincoln
Ph. 217-732-9200
Matthews Construction
Brad Matthews of Lincoln
Ph. 217-414-2105
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