5 Common Mistakes Roofers Make

The roof: a very important part of every home. Not only is it very visible and adds to the “look” of the building, it’s also relied on to protect the building from the elements (Canada’s always-changing weather conditions). With that being said, roofers must install the roof correctly and with the correct materials in order to avoid any issues. Today, we’ll be reviewing five common mistakes roofers make. Let’s get started…

1. Fasteners. The nails that hold the shingles to the roof. A couple mistakes commonly made are:
   • Wrong nail length - if the nails used are not long enough, the shingles run the risk of loosening and moving. This could lead to more frequent repairs and shingle replacements. Choose nails long enough to go into the decking securely to make shingles stay in place and last longer.
   • Exposed nails - proper nail placement helps the shingles ad overall roof maintain its integrity. Nail heads should be placed under the top layer of shingles, not exposure to water and sun can cause rust and corrosion, which will eat away at the faster and therefore leaving holes in the shingles.
2. Incorrect Color Match. The color of the shingles has nothing to do with the integrity or functionality of the roof, but if it’s mismatched and patchy, that’s one ugly roof. Make sure your roofer is purchasing shingles from one supplier and is using them consistently on the roof, not using a variety of brands or types of shingles. This will look funky and will also be unprofessional of the roofer.
3. Improper shingle overhang. Ever wonder why your shingles slightly overhang the edge of the roof? No? Neither have the majority of people, but here’s why: it helps the shingles from flying away and protects underneath the edges. We recommend to slightly overhang the shingles an inch to an inch and a half, anymore and they’ll blow off with high wind and strong weather conditions. If you do less than an inch, you run the risk of water infiltrating the roof deck and leaking into the building.
4. Improper Venting. People often forget that heat and moisture from within the building have to leave somewhere. Roofers and roofing material companies use materials made to not only keep the integrity of the roof but to properly vent it and avoid any issues with moisture collection.
5. Covering old shingles. Sadly, some roofing companies cut corners. Whether it’s replacing a portion of the roof or the entire roof,the proper way is to remove all of the old shingles and replace them with new ones. Installing new shingles over old ones can lead to moisture collecting, which will deteriorate the shingles more quickly.

Those are five of our commonly seen roofers mistakes. The next time you’re getting shingles replaced or maybe you’re from a company that replaces shingles, make sure the above are talked about so mistakes are avoided. Check out our roofing supplies at Edmonton Fasteners.