(Newswire.net — February 22, 2019) — What are the common roofing mistakes? A roof is a vital component of any complete home. Working with a professional on the installation and repairs for your roof guarantees you the longevity of it and added value. However, there are amateurs and newbies who can do some shoddy work that can lead to improper installation and the accumulation of high costs. Below are some of the common roofing mistakes that you should look out for:
Five of the Most Common Roofing Mistakes
Incorrect Shingle Installation
A lot of inexperienced roofers at times begin the roofing installation process without placing starter shingles. Experienced roofers work professionally by installing a starter strip before adding a layer of shingles along the eaves. One of the weak areas of a roof is near the eaves since there is a tendency of ice building up also easy water penetration. These starter shingles gives additional protection which reduces the risk of damaged shingles and leaks.
Not Planning for Ice Dams
Due to unpredictable warm temperatures with immediate freezing, it is an ideal environment for ice and snow. The removal of ice and snow from roofs in houses with insufficient ventilation or clogged roofs leads to an increase in leaks in houses. However, this is only a short-term solution.
There are three ways to protect the damage caused by ice dams: insulation, ventilation and waterproof tile backing. The three work together. The insulation prevents heat from escaping from the living space of your house to your attic. The ventilation dissipates heat and the roof cools down evenly so that the snow does not melt on the roof.
Not Allowing Ceilings or Attics to Vent
The attic plays an important role to ensure that your roof is as expected. Proper air circulation in the attic is essential to ensure that the roof remains stable for years. You can tell if there is adequate ventilation in the loft or is missing. If you notice a smell of musk in the attic, it is often not because of the embedded elements, but because of insufficient airflow.
Your attic, like most areas of your home, requires good air circulation. There are several ways you can generate enough air in this area. An owner can buy ventilation solutions on the market using a variety of techniques to ensure that sufficient air flows through the loft.
Not Aligning Shingles Correctly
A starter shingles strip must be extra strong to make it when cutting the tabs of normal shingles. This is stuck at the bottom of the roof. An important idea with shingles is that they have to be offset so that the valleys do not align and cause a leak. At this point, you need to measure two chalk lines so that everything is perfectly horizontal and vertical.
The second set of shingles goes fast. You need to make sure that the measurements of the shingles are perfectly even. When you reach the roof ridge, you need to nail the ridge roll. The nails used are a special type of weatherproof nails for roofing applications.
Improper Use of Nails
It is important to keep the nails on a proper line and pattern. The pattern depends on whether you install four or six nails per shingle. You have a little more leeway with this horizontal position than with the vertical one. However, one important principle to keep in mind is that you do not want the nails to be less than three inches from the seam in the overlying pattern.
If you place the nails where they are in the shingle line, you should not have any problem with that. However, if you become a little careless, you might end up with nails in the seam between two shingles at the top. This is one part where a leak can happen and it can be hard to find as the nail is not visible.
In Conclusion
So, what are the most common roofing mistakes? Five of the most common mistakes made when roofing that can lead to costly repairs and maintenance include incorrect shingle installation, not planning for ice dams, not allowing for ceilings or attics to vent, not aligning shingles correctly, and the improper use of nails.