Avoid these common roofing mistakes!
While there may be certain aspects of a situation that do not require a right or wrong answer, you can’t take that chance when it comes to roofing. Exposure is the most important factor to consider in building a roof. With the exposure comes different seasons that will challenge the roofing structure throughout the year, especially during winter season. And it’s no joke when the most important part of your household starts to deteriorate.
Given the circumstances of any home, the roofing should be sufficient in withstanding against weather conditions that could cause major damages or dents over time. However, a strong, sturdy roof might not always be enough to compensate for the harsh environment. Sometimes, installation of these roofs could have been done poorly or improper materials were used to craft the shingles or structure of the roof. These mishaps can cause even further damage and will be a harder issue to fix if not given proper attention. For us to keep our roofing structure well maintained, a few common mistakes should be avoided in the roofing structure such as:
Improper Slope Structure
The slope of your roof is an important aspect of the entire household structure that affects its interior volume, drainage and materials to use for the roofing. Slopes in roofing are measured through a vertical rise and horizontal run. For example, a 2/12 slope means vertical rise of 2 inches and horizontal run of 12 inches. A 2/12 slope is classified as a flat roof. Anything above this up to the range of 4/12 is a low slope. If the dimensions of the slope exceed 4/12 such as 9/12 or higher, then it’s classified as a steep slope.
Using the wrong materials for a low slope roof causes water to collect on the roof that results in water penetration. Poor materials chosen to manufacture the roofing structure also cause minimal protection against rain and moisture. It is advisable to use single-ply membrane for low slope roofs and shingles or tiles for roof slopes higher than 4/12.
Using Nails Inappropriately
As a standard rule in installing shingles to your roof requires no less than 4 nails to ensure installation at a secure level. Using less than the minimum amount required only results in loosely installed shingles and susceptible water leaks including penetration from rain, moisture, or any harmful weather conditions. The positioning of the nails is also essential in the roofing structure so as to prevent a loose roofing structure.
Poor Attic Ventilation
Poor ventilation only causes shingles to deteriorate over time due to continued heat and moisture exposure. Allowing a little breathing room is necessary to expel the heat and moisture from the roof instead of containing and accumulating rising temperatures and moisture levels. Roofing issues can negatively affect other areas of your home like your insulation and even air conditioning.
Improper Handling of Shingles & Valleys
Misaligned shingles and shingles beyond their overhang measurement can cause shingles to be easily blown away by harsh winds and cause leaks that can go as far as the interior of the house. Shingles are normally bought in bulk so it must be made with guarantee that these shingles have the same dimensions & measurements. If not, this might be the reason for misalignment. Shingles must also be positioned between an inch & an inch and a half as a standard measurement against harsh weather conditions.
Roof valleys serve as protective elements that hold most of the runoff water, making them the most prone to water leaks. Not using enough sealant or misplacing these valleys atop shingles can cause water leaks and even speed up the deterioration process.
Roofing requires an abundant knowledge of technical background and experience for an invaluable service to be delivered for every home. Considering the circumstances of any climatic condition leaves the house vulnerable without properly checking even minor damages that a roof may have. Although there may pose a number of potential hazards to the house, understanding and increasing awareness for each layer of potential damage in a roof can be a beneficial preventive method over long periods of time. Being able to address these problems with technical knowledge also aids greatly in avoiding these common roofing mistakes.