Incorrect roof installation may show up as uneven or popping-up shingles, exposed roofing nails, leaks after installation, poorly installed flashing, sagging areas, poor ventilation, and premature loss of roof shingles. While some mistakes may be visible from the ground or yard, others require closer evaluation by a roofing professional.
Installing a new roof is a major investment. Left unaddressed, installation problems can lead to leaks inside the home, mold issues, damaged roof decking, increased cooling and heating costs, and a reduction in the roof’ overall lifespan.
Should New Roof Shingles Look Crooked?
Ideally, new roof shingles should lie flat against the roof and form straight, uniform courses without gaps, waving or irregular spacing. Unless the roof has an unusual design or shape, uneven shingles over time could mean they weren’t installed correctly, aren’t fastened securely, the roof deck is uneven, or the shingles weren’t installed according to instructions.
When laying individual shingles on a roof, nail spacing, starter rows, alignment, and sealing also affect the roof’s finished appearance. Newly installed shingles may appear slightly raised if installed during cool weather. Shingles may require sunlight and warm temperatures to activate the adhesive strips and seal properly between the pieces.
If large gaps between courses remain, shingles are obviously crooked, courses appear buckled, or the shingles refuse to lay flat, there could be a problem. As the roofing materials acclimate to their surroundings, your roof should appear smooth and uniform.
Are Missing Nail Heads a Problem?
Missing nail heads may indicate improper roof installation when they are located under an area that should be covered by shingles or flashing. Improperly driven nails can create channels for water and moisture to penetrate the underlayment and roof decking.
In most cases, the nails used to attach shingles will be covered by the overlapping row of shingles above them. Some exposed fasteners are permitted around flashing and certain roof components, but must be installed correctly and located in areas approved by the roofing material manufacturer.
Some other fastening issues to look for include:
- Nails not located within the specified nailing area indicated on each shingle
- Nails punched through the shingle
- Raised nails or screws
- Fewer than the recommended number of nails used to secure a shingle
- Staples or other fasteners that are not permitted by the shingle manufacturer
Incorrect nail placement may decrease the shingle’ resistance to wind. Coverage under most shingle manufacturers’ warranty is also at risk if the contractor fails to install the roof according to specifications.
Will My New Roof Leak Sometimes?
Normal rain, snow, and weather should not cause your roof to leak. Water stains on ceilings, damp insulation, dripping water, or stains appearing after installation may indicate a problem with the roofing shingles, flashing details, underlayment, roof valleys, or roof penetrations such as vents or skylights.
Visit your attic or upstairs rooms during or after heavy rain or snow.
Watch for:
- Brown or yellow stains on the ceilings
- Damp or flattened insulation
- Dark streaks on rafters or roof decking
- Curling or peeling paint near ceiling lines
- Musty odors
- Visible mold
Leaks are not always located directly under where the roof was installed incorrectly. Water can enter around a chimney, roof vent, along roof intersections called valleys, and travel along the roof decking until it appears inside the home.
Contact your roofing contractor immediately if you notice signs of leaking. Not only can small problems cause extensive damage over time, but delays in reporting issues may nullify your ability to recover the costs through a warranty claim.
What Are Some Examples of Improper Flashing?
Examples of improper flashing include loose or bent flashing, missing flashing, improperly sealed flashings, gaps between the flashing and roof components, and flashing that does not cover the appropriate areas. Flashing protects areas like chimneys, roof valleys, skylights, walls, vents, and plumbing vent boots from water intrusion.
Roofing cement, sealant, or caulk should not serve as a roof’s only line of defense against water damage in areas that require flashing. While caulk can break down or deteriorate over time, properly installed flashing helps ensure water is drained away from these areas.
Flashing issues can include visible gaps between overlapping pieces, exposed flashing seams, reused damaged flashing, and metal pieces that don’t extend far enough under the shingles above. Water stains on or around a chimney, skylight, or roof vent may also result from improper flashing.
Because many flashing details cannot be seen from the ground, a professional roof inspection is recommended.
Why Are Roof Shingles Falling Off?
Loose or missing shingles after a recent roof installation can signal that something wasn’t done correctly. Problems could include improperly nailed shingles, shingles not sealed correctly, missing starter shingles at the roof edges, or failure to comply with wind-rating requirements during installation.
High winds shouldn’t routinely loosen or remove new roofing shingles. Asphalt roofing shingles have a wind rating which dictates where they can be installed. Using the wrong nails, or not applying the correct number of nails, can lead to wind damage and reduced wind resistance.
Starter shingles run along the edge of a roof and provide the first layer of sealant. This can also help prevent wind uplift and reduce the chance that wind will blow off your shingles.
If you find one missing shingle, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your roof was installed incorrectly. However, if entire sections of your roofing shingles are loose, falling off, or damaged, have your roof inspected.
Why Is My New Roof Sagging?
A sagging roofline is not normal and should be inspected by your roofing contractor or another roofing professional. Although less common, issues can include damaged decking, poor attic ventilation, trapped moisture under the roof deck, or failing to repair or replace rotted wood before installing the new roofing materials.
When replacing your roof, inspect the decking after removing the old roofing materials. Replace soft spots or rotten decking to ensure new roofing materials don’t cover a problem. Then allow the decking to dry before installing the roof’ underlayment and shingles.
You can’t fix a sagging roof by installing new roofing materials. Water spots on the ceiling, soft spots on the roof, and failed roofing nails can occur if you don’t address this problem.
Contact a roofing contractor to inspect your roof. Don’t climb on your roof until you know what caused the problem.
What Problems Are Caused By Poor Attic Ventilation?
Poor attic ventilation can cause damage to asphalt roofing shingles, create condensation and moisture on the roof deck, ruin attic insulation, and lead to mold or fungus issues. While attics need fresh air, several factors determine whether your attic is ventilated properly.
Having too many roof vents can be just as bad as not having enough. Improper ventilation can cause attics to trap heat and moisture, which may shorten your roof’s lifespan and lead to costly repairs.
Because heat and moisture damage roofs from the inside out, it’s easy to overlook attic ventilation as the cause of your roofing problems. Poor ventilation can cause shingles to age prematurely, which may be why your brand-new roof doesn’t look so new.
Consult with a professional roofing contractor to determine if your attic is sufficiently ventilated.
Should My Roof Have A Drip Edge?
Install a drip edge on most roofs during replacement. When local building codes require drip edges, install the metal pieces along the roof edges.
Drip edges serve many purposes, including helping water run off the roof, keeping water from backing up under the roofing materials, and preventing excess moisture from building up along the fascia boards.
Missing or poorly installed drip edges could lead to rotted fascia boards, stained siding, damaged roof decking, gutters pulling away from your home, and water collecting behind gutters.
Look for the metal drip edge along the bottom edges of your roof. Depending on the roof design and local building codes, homeowners may be able to see the drip edge along the rake edges of roofs.
Can’t find it or not sure it’s installed correctly? Call Atlas Roofing & Siding. We can examine the roofing materials used on your home and determine if a drip edge was used or installed properly.
Is It Possible For A Roof To Pass Inspection But Have Issues?
Roofs can pass a municipal building inspection but still have workmanship problems. Professional roof inspectors commonly find improper flashing installation, mistakes not visible during the initial inspection, and application issues after roofs pass inspection.
Issues covered before inspection are nearly impossible for the homeowner to see from the ground. While most roofs pass inspection, poor workmanship could exist anywhere on the roof. Issues covered by shingles may go unnoticed until significant damage occurs.
Before work begins on your roof, confirm that your roofer will provide a workmanship warranty. Ask how long they stand behind their work and whether you must use them for future repairs.
Keep your contract, list of materials used on your roof, permits, photographs of your roof before and after installation, and payment records in case problems arise later.
How Do I Know If My Roof Was Installed Incorrectly?
Contact your roofing contractor if you think your roof was installed incorrectly. Don’t try to repair your roof yourself, as you could cause further damage. Roof repairs can be tricky, and doing work yourself can complicate any warranty or workmanship claim you may need to file.
Photograph areas you know are wrong, and note when you first noticed the problem. Review your contract and take note of the workmanship warranty provided by the roofing contractor.
Contact your roofing company and explain your concerns. Professional contractors will offer to inspect and repair any issues they caused. Many times, what a homeowner thinks will be expensive or difficult to fix can be corrected at little to no cost.
If your roofing company doesn’t reply, or you would prefer a brand-new roof inspected, hire a local roofing contractor for a second opinion. Most inspectors will gladly photograph problem areas and write up a report detailing what needs to be repaired on your roof.
How Can Atlas Roofing & Siding Evaluate My New Roof?
At Atlas Roofing & Siding, we can inspect your roof for uneven or improperly installed shingles, flashing problems, ventilation issues, exposed roofing nails, leaks, and other improper installation. Our inspection can help you determine if your roof issues are cosmetic, can be easily repaired, or may lead to problems down the road.
Let us put our 50+ years of experience to work for you. Atlas Roofing & Siding offers roof inspections, roof repairs, maintenance services, reroofing, and complete roof installations to residential and commercial property owners in Union County, Madison County, Columbus, and other communities located in Central Ohio.
Don’t wait for a small installation issue to cost you thousands of dollars. Contact Atlas Roofing & Siding today and schedule your professional roof inspection. We’ll walk you through our findings and offer recommendations to protect your roof.
