The roof is one of the most expensive parts of the house to build. But roof repair or replacement is also the type of construction job where poor quality and material installation can be encountered. A lousy roof repair can lead to even higher costs for homeowners and further roof damage to the house.
You don’t need to be an expert to spot a sloppy roofing job. All you need is a pair of watchful eyes to find the common signs that your roofer didn’t perform the job well.
You can quickly notice a lousy roofing job by just looking at the roof’s appearance from the outside. However, in many instances, the visible signs will only become noticeable long after the roofing material has been installed. If you see these apparent signs, mainly if no significant disaster has occurred, this is already a clear sign for you that your roofer didn’t deliver a good roof repair service.
Checking for Visual Signs
Stains and Paint Bubbles
Stains are noticeable in your house from the outside, so you should immediately check if there’s a water leak somewhere underneath the roof structure. Scrutinize your attic to know the extent of the water leak and prevent it from worsening later on. Small leaks can still be fixed without requiring partial or complete roof replacement. However, if the status of your roof is beyond repair, you should not hesitate to call a roofing contractor Bronx to avoid further expenses and inconveniences.
If the repair or installation of roofing materials isn’t properly executed, you shouldn’t be surprised to encounter recurring roofing issues only after a few years. Roof stains usually come from slightly broken shingles and damaged underlayment. And if you leave the problem unattended, expect the water leak to gradually destroy the structural frames until it penetrates the ceiling and wall paints, aside from water ponding and wood decay.
Damaged Shingles Or Missing Parts
It’s not uncommon to encounter damaged shingles or loose granules after a heavy rainstorm. But if your house alone within the block has suffered a lot, it should leave you wondering whether your roofer has properly installed your roof or not. You can repair small damaged shingles without the need to get professional roofing Bronx services. If the damage is already beyond repair and you lack the appropriate tools and equipment, consider hiring a certified roofer to relieve yourself from further stress.
Uniformity in Color
Your roof is expected to age evenly on all sides and is more exposed to extreme weather under normal circumstances. Uneven color appearance and multiple broken shingles are clear indicators that your roof needs serious attention. Even mismatched shingles and incorrect nailing patterns may result in bad additional damage and early deterioration. Moreover, having separate sections of new and old roof materials will speed up the aging process of your roof, which can also lead to further damage.
2. Checking the Structural Aspects
While it looks easier to spot the problems visually, you shouldn’t ignore the structural damage to your roof as it can cause potential leaking issues if you leave it alone. Making your roof watertight requires appropriate hardware accessories and power tools to ensure proper installation. Flashing and other essential attachments must be properly installed and sealed, particularly when connecting them to chimneys, intersections, and hip valleys. Aside from this, every roofing material requires different types of nails. If you choose the wrong size or the nail spacing is too close to the edge, the material might get dislodged and cause leaks.
You must ensure that the drip edge, a metal sheet protecting the fascia board from water damage, is also properly installed. A drip edge is generally located between the underlayment and shingles, which extends over the roof gutter. Unfortunately, if the drip edges get damaged or missing, it may result in a flooded basement, mold growth, staining, and soil erosion at the foundation walls. It would help if you also watched for missing underlayment since this won’t only lead to leak problems but may shorten the service life of your roof.
3. Roofer Red Flags
You can avoid experiencing bad repair work if you do prior research before finalizing your contractor. During the selection process, you may request prospective roofers to submit a project proposal indicating the corresponding amount for each scope of work. If the contractor’s explanation concerning design and costing isn’t clear enough, the roofer probably doesn’t know how to resolve your problem. A committed contractor will take time to inspect your roof thoroughly and will answer your questions with a professional attitude before proceeding to any formal negotiation.
Incredible contractors will clearly explain the entire process from material procurement to work schedule to show you how they work. It’s also important to know if the contractor you’re dealing with is properly licensed, bonded, and officially registered. A reliable contractor is also willing to present the necessary certificates to prove that they are registered and bonded. Lastly, before they start to work, a professional roofer will secure a building permit from local state authorities at their own expense.
Experiencing a lousy roofing service is inevitable since you don’t have any direct control over the quality of artistry you may receive from a professional roofer. But you can always decide which contractor to choose based on credentials, personal preferences, and of course, online reviews you get from previous clients.
