2 minute read
Two Common Roofing Errors
by Expert Contributor Kevin O'Donnell, Owner of O’Donnell Roofing Co.
Each individual roofer’s experience is a large part of their expertise. But customers are typically better served by a roofing company with decades of experience in efficiently and correctly identifying the source and cause of roof leaks and issues.
Discovering a roof’s excess moisture problems can be a complex process due to multiple factors such as ventilation, masonry walls and complex flashing situations. But many leaks are created when a roofer ignores building code and manufacturer requirements, thereby also ignoring the fundamentals of proper roof installation. When a roof leaks, it’s rarely the product’s fault; it’s usually human error or poor workmanship.
Here are two very common causes of roof issues:
Improper Preparation of or Unsatisfactory Decking
Experienced roofers know that they never know what they’ll find after removing the old roofing material. That’s why every roofing company’s contract has a clause that speaks to the pricing and handling of plywood or decking replacement, which always requires an on-site judgement call as roof replacement gets started. Such decisions should not be taken lightly because they will affect the lifespan of your new roof. The most innocent of knotholes in an 80-year-old piece of pine or slight dry rot or delamination of plywood will most certainly create issues rather quickly.
A roof deck must be tight, solid and thick enough for nails to hold correctly and shingles to remain flat for 30 + years. The price of every sheet of plywood or foot of board typically determines how well it will preserve the integrity of your investment. If a roof seems expensive now, try paying for it twice within the first five years. If there’s ever a concern about the roof decking, opt for all new.
Poor Nail Placement / Overdriven Nails
Improper nailing can cause leaks that may not start for 10 years after a roof is installed. Tracing such leaks can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Even though every package of shingles has the nail placement pattern written on it, many roof installers don’t read the package or whoever trained them or inspected their work hadn’t been on enough roofs to know how important proper nailing is. This issue, which can also be due to an installer focusing more on speed than craftsmanship, paves the way for premature leakage and roof failure as well as complete roof blow-offs. This common mistake can be avoided by hiring a company that specifically addresses the importance of proper nailing during a sales appointment.
Expert Contributor Kevin O'Donnell, Owner of O’Donnell Roofing Co.
O'DONNELL ROOFING CO.
610-449-8188
www.ODonnellRoofingCo.com
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