As a homeowner, your primary responsibility is to ensure that your home stays well maintained throughout the years. This is why you’re proactive about cleaning the gutters, trimming the lawn, and inspecting the overall structure. Unfortunately, the roof can often cause problems when you least expect it, forcing you to hire a roofing contractor right away. In your scramble, you might overlook some signs that the roofer isn’t reputable and end up with an incorrectly installed roof.
Here are signs of a bad roofing job, as well as ways to avoid the issues and to hire a reputable roofing company.
The Problem Persists
Did you call the roofer to help with a leak only to find that the dripping continues after they have left? That’s one of the most obvious signs that the roofing contractor didn’t do their job. After all, you’ve called them for a specific reason. If they didn’t provide a solution, you’re going to have to call someone else before the issue gets even worse.
Sagging Rooflines
This issue is pretty easy to spot right away since roofing lines should be straight throughout. The moment you notice that there are dips and curves that weren’t there before or that have gotten progressively worse, you’re going to need repairs. Sagging roof lines often occur when weakened frames or decking were covered or ignored instead of replaced.
Quality Underlayment
No underlayment? No good. A decent roofing contractor will always place underlayment between the sheathing and shingles of your home. This is essential. The underlayment provides an additional barrier that shields your roof from moisture and leaks. It also increases the lifespan of your roof.
Lack Of Uniformity
Following a visit from a roofing contractor, you should see that the new roof or repaired area is uniform. Look up at the roof from every angle. If there is something amiss from one angle, it could mean that the roofing job was of poor quality. Materials should be consistent, and there shouldn’t be any curving or dipping along the lines of the roof. Keep an eye out, because that means the installation is faulty.
Furthermore, a roofing system should age uniformly. If one side is eroding faster than the other, something is wrong.
Hardware Or Installation Mistakes
When a roofing job is done wrong, it’s often due to the wrong nails or improper installation techniques. To ensure that the roof is sealed properly and won’t cause leaks, nails of the correct grade, type, and size are needed. This largely depends on the roofing materials used.
Nails must also be driven into the materials the right way. If the nail is too shallow, it won’t get to the roof deck, which could lead to missing shingles. When a nail is driven too deep, it might damage the shingles, opening up holes for leaks. The same applies to nails that are crooked.
But a bad roofing job is more than messed up nails. Roofs need all the right hardware—flashing, drip edges, underlayment, decking, and vents. These things work together systematically to ensure the roof functions properly. Making a mistake on the hardware size or material, or even forgetting elements, is a sure sign that the roofing contractor isn’t going to provide the best service.
Missing Drip Edge
The drip edges around your roof are important because they move water in the correct direction—to the gutters and downspouts. These components are fabricated from galvanized steel and get installed under the shingles but above the underlayment. Missing drip edges can result in problems like wood rot and mold growth. You might also notice staining on the siding, soil erosion around the foundation, and water leaking into your basement.
How To Find A Good Roofing Contractor
If you want to avoid a bad roofing job, the best way is to hire a company or contractor that you can trust. Here are some tips to help you find the right one:
Get Recommendations
The first step to doing that is going online and doing some research. You’ve obviously experienced a bad roofing job, so you know what not to look for. Instead, try asking your family, friends, and coworkers for their recommendations. Then search for whoever they named, read the reviews and testimonials, and see if the companies have before-and-after pictures or social media.
Look At Credentials
Many experienced and reliable roofing companies are going to take the time to show how professional they are. In other words, they’re going to have certifications and credentials. Certifications often give these companies the ability to work on and sell roofing materials. For example, RGB Construction is a GAF Certified GreenRoofer and GAF Master Elite.
These are distinctions that prove a roofing company is a cut above the rest. Their employees are going to be trained, educated, and professional; and they’ll provide quality workmanship.
Need A Reliable Roofing Contractor Today?
Have you noticed signs of a bad roofing job? It’s time to get it fixed. RGB Construction has a professional team of roofers with experience and skill at correcting mistakes and skillfully completing roofing projects. Don’t wait for your roof to get worse. Call us today and schedule your consultation or get more information.
