5 Common Roofing Mistakes to Avoid

Everyone makes mistakes. Even the most experienced and skilled roofers. After all, they have a lot of things to consider while they’re on a roof. Between the structural, safety, and aesthetic elements of a roof, something is bound to fall through the cracks. 

 But home and business owners expect a mistake-free roofing job every time. So, let’s explore some of the common mistakes even the most trusted roofers are likely to make during roof installations and repairs. We’ll cover mistakes in the sales process and mistakes in installation along the way.

1. Incorrectly Installing Roof Materials

 Good roofers follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure a system is properly installed and so the manufacturer will honor the warranty. But some roofers cut corners to save time or due to poorly trained crews. Here are just some roofing components that can be installed incorrectly and cause major damage to a home or business: 

Underlayment 

Roofing underlayment is installed directly to the roof deck, under all other roofing materials, to prevent water from getting into the structure. If the underlayment is installed incorrectly, homes and buildings are likely to experience water damage during severe weather or regular exposure to the elements. 

Flashing 

Drip edge flashing is another roofing material meant to keep water from leaking into a home or building. Flashing should be used on the outside edges of chimneys, vent pipes, shingles, or on roof valleys. When drip edge flashing is properly installed, it can stop wind-driven rain from getting inside the structure, prevent insects from entering the attic, and keep shingles from sagging and breaking. 

Shingles 

When repairing a roof, contractors don’t always remove the preexisting shingles before installing new ones. By layering shingles, contractors can’t properly inspect the roof structure for damage. And some roofs aren’t built to support the weight of two shingle systems. To ensure the best shingle installation and maintain the integrity of the roof, old shingles should always be removed before installing new ones. 

Gutters 

The whole purpose of roof gutters is to guide water away from the roof, so it doesn’t make its way into the structure. When gutters are installed too low or at an insufficient slope, gutters can get backed up, overflow, and cause water to enter the structure. 
 

2. Ignoring the Attic

Although often forgotten, the attic is a part of the roofing system. While it’s important to make sure the roof is properly waterproofed to keep moisture out of the attic, roofers also need to ensure proper attic ventilation. Without proper ventilation, heat and moisture can build up in the attic, leading to problems like mold, mildew, and wood rot. Roofers need to adequately ventilate the attic to prevent these issues. 
 

3. Neglecting to Clean the Gutters

Roofers are contractors, not cleaners, so it seems strange to expect them to clean gutters. But when providing routine roof maintenance, roofers should always clean the gutters before finishing a job.  

 Clogged gutters can cause water to back up and damage the roof, fascia, and soffit. Unfortunately, many roofers neglect to clean gutters while performing roof maintenance, which can lead to expensive repairs down the road. Gutters must be cleaned and inspected regularly to prevent damage to the roof and other components of a building. 

4. Using Sub-par Materials

 We all want to save money. But cutting costs on the roof of your home or business is not a good financial decision. Roofers will often use inferior materials to save money in the short term, but it can lead to serious issues later. Roofers will sometimes try to save money on: 

Shingles 

Low-quality shingles may not provide adequate protection against the elements, which can lead to leaks and premature wear. Sometimes roof repairs result in a mismatched roof. While mismatched shingles are usually just an aesthetic issue, it’s an obvious mistake. 

Roofing Nails 

Correct roofing nails need to be long, have large heads and barbed shanks. If roofers use the wrong nails, insurance companies will cite incorrect nail selection as a reason to refuse to pay insurance claims in the case of roof failure. 

5. Conducting Inadequate Roof Inspections

Many roofers rely on a visual inspection to assess the condition of a roof, sometimes from simply standing on a ladder against the home. While this can be useful, it’s often not enough to identify all possible issues. A thorough drone roof inspection can provide a more detailed view of the roof, allowing roofers to identify potential issues that may not be visible from the ground due to a steep slope or high roof. Tools like IMGING provide roofers with high-resolution imagery and advanced analytics that can help identify issues such as hail damage, missing shingles, and more. 

 Also, a drone roof inspection is safer and more efficient for roof contractors. Instead of setting up a ladder, climbing on the roof, and taking manual measurements and notes, an IMGING drone roof inspection collects all roof measurements, automatically creates 3D models, and detects roof damage in just a few minutes. And the roofer gets to keep his feet on the ground, potentially lowering workers comp for sales estimators as well. 

Using a drone roof inspection tool, like IMGING, as part of the sales process can help identify potential issues the customers may not be aware of. Building reports that highlight these issues can drive urgency, and the validation of AI detecting damage can be a powerful way to build trust with property owners. 

 The roofing industry is constantly evolving with new and improved materials, technologies, and techniques. But even with all the new innovations, human error is still an issue. But by avoiding the mistakes mentioned here, roofers can provide their customers with better service and a higher-quality roof that will protect their home or business. 

If you’re ready to start conducting drone roof inspections and avoid roofing mistakes, check out your options with IMGING drone software.