Roofing is an important part of your home’s structural integrity. If your roof is damaged, it can lead to costly repairs or replacement.
It’s important to do your research and choose a qualified roofer. Avoiding common mistakes can save you time and money in the long run.
1. Not Getting a Professional Inspection
The roof is a crucial component of any home. It protects your family from the elements and ensures that all of your belongings stay safe, dry and secure.
However, the roof is also a significant investment that homeowners should treat with care and respect. That’s why it’s so important to get a professional inspection when it comes to your roof.
If you skip this process, you might miss some serious issues that are lurking under the surface. That could mean bigger, more expensive repairs down the road.
But a professional inspection will catch these problems before they can get out of hand, saving you time and money down the line. It’s easy, just visit Greensboro roofer’s website and contact them through their phone number or email.
A professional roofing inspector uses sophisticated equipment and updated technology to identify even the most hidden of problems. For example, infrared roof inspections can hunt down the so-called “hot spots” in your roof where heat is escaping through damaged shingles.
If you’re looking for a roofer in Greenville, SC to help with your roofing needs, don’t hesitate to call HomeMasters today. We’ll be happy to schedule a professional inspection for you! We’ll also provide you with a detailed analysis of our findings. Afterwards, you’ll be able to make informed decisions about your roof’s health and maintenance needs.
2. Not Keeping Your Attic Insulated
Insulation is one of the most important things you can do to keep your home comfortable and energy efficient. It’s also an excellent way to protect your roof from damage.
It reduces heat loss from your home and increases the efficiency of your HVAC system, lowering your monthly energy bill. It also prevents moisture from entering your attic and causing mold growth.
Adding insulation can increase the value of your home. It’s especially important if you’re planning on selling your house in the future.
Attic insulation also reduces the amount of pollution your home absorbs. It blocks dirt, radon, smoke and other pollutants from entering your home.
Insulation can also help your home stay cool and dry in the summer. It helps stop the sun’s heat from radiating through your attic walls and into your living space.
In addition, proper attic insulation can also reduce air leaks and ice dams. These leaks can lead to costly water damage and even roof failure.
Getting a professional to install your attic insulation is the best way to ensure that it’s done correctly. They will make sure that the insulation has the right R-value, is installed in the proper places and is air sealed properly.
3. Not Keeping Trees Trimmed
Trees provide shade for your home, reduce soil erosion and protect your roof from wind damage. Arborists and roofing contractors recommend pruning trees regularly to keep them healthy and looking their best.
Step 1: Maintain a safe distance from your home’s roof and other structures – Trees should be trimmed so that they are at least six feet away from your house’s roof and other buildings on your property, such as a garage or shed. If a branch hits your roof or becomes entangled with safety lights, cables, or electrical wires, it can cause serious damage to your roof and your home.
Trimming limbs can also help prevent animals from using your roof as a nest. Squirrels, raccoons and other creatures can gnaw on roof shingles and metal and create holes that lead to costly repairs.
Pruning can also remove unhealthy or diseased limbs, as well as any branches that rub together and stubs to keep them from becoming infected with harmful pests and diseases. The right time to prune will depend on the species of the tree.
You should trim your trees when they are dormant – this is usually in late winter for non-blooming trees and in spring just after blooming occurs for blooming ones. Pruning in the growing season exposes fresh pruning wounds to pests and diseases that are active then.
4. Not Keeping Your Shingles Aligned
Keeping your shingles aligned is essential to protecting your roof. This ensures that water won’t be able to seep under them and cause the roof to leak. It also helps to keep the shingle’s edges flat so that they expose as little surface as possible for the wind to push against.
If you’re installing a new roof, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper shingle alignment. This is particularly important for tab shingles.
Another thing to check is the height of the shingles. Sometimes shingles vary in height from brand to brand, and sometimes even from shingles in the same bundle.
The best way to determine whether the shingles are too tall or too short is to measure from the edge of one shingle to the edge of an adjacent shingle. Then, compare the two measurements to make sure they’re within a few inches of each other.
It’s also a good idea to have an assistant hold the end of the shingle chalk line so that you can snap it over the average exposure mark. This step will make it easier for you to snap the rest of the shingles without getting tangled in the line.
The type of fastener you use is also critical to ensuring that your shingles resist wind uplift and pull-through. Asphalt shingles are most often fastened with either roofing nails or staples.
5. Not Keeping the Valley Flashing Secured
When it comes to roofing, your roof valley is one of the most important parts. Keeping your roof valley secure will prevent water damage to your home, as well as help you keep insects and other pests out of your home.
A good way to ensure that your roof valley is properly secured is to check it regularly for signs of problems. This will allow you to spot problems early on and prevent them from worsening over time.
This also helps you avoid costly repairs down the road as you will be able to identify any issues with your roof right away. For example, if you notice that your flashing is loose, then you should call a professional to replace it as soon as possible.
It is common for valley flashing to become loose or even fall off of your roof over time. This can be caused by a variety of factors including weather conditions, aging and wear and tear.
Another common problem is the formation of rust. This can cause the protective coating on your metal valley flashing to break down, allowing water to seep in.
To fix this issue, you should install a fabricated cleat that is bent over the edge of your metal valley flashing. This is then nailed in place using a screw that is made of the same metal as your valley flashing.
6. Not Keeping the Nails in Place
Nails are one of the smallest, but most important parts of your roof. They must be placed correctly and secured well in order for your shingles to stay in place.
When nails aren’t properly driven into your shingles, they can cause serious damage to them over time. They can also be a safety hazard for anyone who steps on them, so it’s vital to ensure they are secured properly.
Roofing nails should always be driven straight to maximize the strength of your roof and prevent them from being ripped or broken. A nail that is too shallow or too deep will penetrate too much of the shingle and leave gaps for water to get inside your home.
They should also be driven into the shingle evenly so that you don’t have an uneven edge. Often, inexperienced roofers will hand-drive nails with a hammer rather than using a nail gun.
Another common problem is that the nails don’t hit the top shingle and the very top of the shingle underneath it. This isn’t the best way to secure your shingles and could result in them falling out of place in windy weather.
