Common Corners Cut by Inexperienced or Careless Roofers

Common Corners Cut by Inexperienced or Careless Roofers post thumbnail

Most roofing companies in the State of Florida hire cheap freelance roofing crews to install the roofs that their company sells. These freelance crews are typically comprised of a crew leader and a group of low-paid, inexperienced, and uninsured workers who are paid “under the table”.  These crews usually install roofs for many other roofing companies and have no vested interest or loyalty to the roofing company that they are installing the roof for. Unfortunately, this model has led to hundreds of thousands of poorly installed roofs across the state of Florida. Below are some examples of poor roof installations that we come across on a weekly basis.  

Figure 1 Deck not properly nailed or air/moisture trying to escape though the plywood joints due to lack of attic ventilation.
Figure 1 Deck not properly nailed or air/moisture trying to escape though the plywood joints due to lack of attic ventilation.

POOR DECK PREPERATION

Prior to installing the new roof the deck must be solid, clear of debris, and free of protrusions. Since the deck is not seen after the new roof is installed, it is common for installers to rush through this step. Although the newly installed roof may look great, if the deck is not properly prepped, there can be soft areas where the new nails don’t hold, old nails left in the deck that can wear through the shingles over time, and the plywood seams can start to buckle if they were not re-nailed properly.

NOT POPPING CHALK LINES

It is very common for installers to be overly confident in their ability to install shingles in a straight line. It is time consuming to grid out the shingle courses prior to installation, and by skipping this step the roofing crew may shave a few hours off the time it takes to install the roof.  Since most of the shingles are dimensional it is easy to hide the mistakes but to the trained eye it is very noticeable. See if you can spot the mistakes in the photos below.

Figure 3 Eyeballing it instead of popping chalk lines.
Figure 3 Eyeballing it instead of popping chalk lines.
Figure 2 Making corrections to shingle courses not lining up with the shingle courses on the opposite side of the roof intersection. This is a result of an inexperienced crew not knowing how to pop chalk lines in this situation.
Figure 2 Making corrections to shingle courses not lining up with the shingle courses on the opposite side of the roof intersection. This is a result of an inexperienced crew not knowing how to pop chalk lines in this situation.

IMPROPERLY NAILING SHINGLES

A shingle should be nailed in the strike zone under the head lap through the common bond of the shingle. The common bond is where the top and bottom parts of the shingle overlap. If nailed properly, the nail will also go through the top portion of the shingle that is under the shingle being nailed. If nailed too high, the nails will miss the underlying shingle meaning that shingle gets half the nails it should have holding it into place. If nailed too low, the nails will be exposed, the will rust, and leaks will form.  The nails should be driven straight so the nail head lays flat and flush with the shingle. If the nail is overdriven it will shoot through the shingle. If the nail is underdriven the nail will eventually wear through the shingle above and a leak will form. There are usually between 14,000 and 30,000 shingle nails used to install a shingle roof. If the nails are not installed properly by experienced roofers then there is potential for a lot of leaks and other issues.

Figure 4 Improperly Driven Nails
Figure 4 Improperly Driven Nails

HIGH NAILS

When nails are installed too high the shingle can separate and slide out. This is because the nails are not going through the shingles common bond, nor are they being driven through the underlying shingle. When a shingle is nailed properly the nail should go through the common bond of the shingle, and it should be driven through the shingle underneath the shingle being nailed. When shingles are nailed too high, they will often separate at the common bond over time due to gravity, and the will slide down the roof in sheets.

Figure 6 Shingles sliding out due to overdriven high nails.
Figure 6 Shingles sliding out due to overdriven high nails.

Figure 5 Shingles sliding out due to overdriven high nails.
Figure 5 Shingles sliding out due to overdriven high nails.

Figure 7 Shingles sliding out due to roofers not nailing through the common bond.
Figure 7 Shingles sliding out due to roofers not nailing through the common bond.

LOW NAILS

Low nails, also referred to as “shiners” are nails the were nail too low. Low nails are leaks waiting to happen. Once the nail head starts to rust, that low nail will turn into a steady drip of water into the home during the even the lightest rains. Low nails are common when inexperienced workers are given nail guns and rushed on the job.

Figure 8 A low nail that has rusted and start to leak.
Figure 8 A low nail that has rusted and start to leak.

NAILS IN THE WATERWAY

The waterway is the joint where one shingle in a course buts up against the next shingle in the same course. It is common for inexperienced workers to not pay attention to their shingle pattern. A nail should never be installed under where a waterway will lay. If this happens the water that gets in between the shingle joints will run right into the nail, rust it out, and cause a leak. I have inspected many roofs installed by licensed roofing contractors and found nails in the waterway. This is what happens when the roofing contractor hires cheap freelance roofing crews instead of building a highly experienced team of well-paid and skilled roofers.

Figure 9 A nail in the waterway.
Figure 9 A nail in the waterway.

INADEQUITE ATTIC VENTILATION

Improving the attic ventilation is something many roofers miss in the state of Florida. The builders often install inadequate ventilation and when the roofers replace the roof they usually just replace the existing vents instead of making necessary improvements.  And since there is no standard requirement for attic ventilation in the state of Florida, proper attic ventilation is often misunderstood, and overlooked.  Inadequate attic ventilation can lead to moisture being trapped in the attic. When the moisture has nowhere to escape, you can have condensation which can lead to mold. The air and moisture may also try to escape at the plywood joints leading to tunnels in the underlayment and roof covering.  Another issue caused by inadequate attic ventilation is plywood to delamination and a shorter lifespan of the roofing systems. Adding proper attic ventilation can cool down the attic, you’re utility  bills, increase the lifespan of your roof, and prevent many other issues that are a result of poor attic ventilation.

CHEAP OR WRONG FASTENERS (NAILS)

If the wrong or cheap fasteners are used, they can easily work their way out and become “nail pops”.  I’m estimate 95% or more roofs installed in Tampa Bay are installed using cheap generic nails.  

NO QUALITY CONTROL

In the modern roofing industry, most roofing contractors cut cost by having their roofs installed by freelance roofing crews. These crews are typically comprised of a crew chief and low paid workers. When are crew doesn’t have a vested interest in the company, they don’t care as much about the long-term reputation or the long-term performance of the roof they are installing. With any roof there should be quality control regarding the materials, and the installation. Many freelance roofing crews will just install whatever materials that the suppliers delivers.  In the picture below, a supplier we don’t typically use tried to deliver 3 year old shingles mixed with brand new shingles. Our crew immediately stopped the installation,  rejected the delivery, and waited three hours for the supplier to deliver new and matching shingles. Most freelance crews would have just installed the shingles without care, and put the blame on the contractor, and/or the supplier.

USING THE WRONG ROOF CEMENT

There are different types of roof cement for different applications, and different temperatures. If the wrong type of roof cement is used, you may see running once the temperature heats up.

NOT REPLACING OLD FLASHING

Changing out bad flashing on a roof is time consuming and can add hours to the installation time. If flashing is failing or will fail within the life of the roof, the roofer should change it out. Unfortunately, changing out soon to fail flashing is a step that is often skipped.  

LEAVING BAD WOOD OR IMPROPERLY PATCHING BAD WOOD

Something we see a lot when tearing off old roofs are spots in the deck where the previous roofers either patched areas of rotten wood, or they simply installed roofing materials right over it the rotted wood. Roofers will patch rotten wood spots by cutting small pieces of plywood just big enough to cover the rotted wood. They usually do this to try and save the homeowner on the wood bill and save time on the roof installation. The problem with patching wood like this is that the patches usually don’t span enough rafters creating a very weak and vulnerable spot in the roof. We typically don’t use anything less than a half sheet of plywood when repairing rotten wood on the roof deck. This provides for a strong deck, a solid nailable substrate, and you don’t see a bunch of little wood joints through the roof covering. It also prevents future home inspectors from raising flags that hold up a real estate deal.

facebook.com linkedin.com twitter.com
Categories:
Buying a home : things you should know about the roof Buying a Home: Things You Should Know About the Roof
Buying a home is a milestone, especially when it’s your first or your dream home.
Roof tear off Roof Tear Off: What Is It and Why Is It Important?
A time will come when you’ll have to part with the roof that has offered
Commercial roof replacement Commercial Roof Replacement: A Detailed Step-to-Step Guide
As a business owner, your commercial roof is essential to your infrastructure. A commercial roof
Storm roof damage Storm Roof Damage : Who Do You Call First for After a Storm?
What do you do when you experience storm roof damage after a storm? Do you
roofing material for hot climate What Is the Best Roofing Material for Hot Climates?
Roofs do more than protect you and your properties from the sun and elements. When
Roof Tree Damage: Causes, Solutions, and Preventive Measures
Trees are essential to our ecosystem and serve several purposes for property owners, including aesthetics,
Soundproofing your roof Soundproofing Your Roof: How to Create a Serene Home
Almost anyone would want a quiet, peaceful home, especially in bustling areas. Thankfully, as a
Why your roof shingles are not lying flat Reasons Why Your New Roof Shingles Are Not Lying Flat
You won’t have to be concerned about your shingle’s functionality for years if you recently
DIY roof repairs DIY Roof Repairs Vs. Professional Roof Repairs: Which Is Better?
Dealing with roof issues is never fun and can be physically, mentally, and financially exhausting.