Roof repair and replacement are some of the most expensive projects you can undertake when it comes to home maintenance. The roof protects all other aspects of your home, making it an important part of the house. It is also one of the first things people notice when approaching your house, so the finished job should be aesthetically pleasing.
Installing or repairing you roof should only be done by qualified professions to ensure your home gets proper protection. That requires you to do your due diligence when hiring a roofing contractor that will get the job done right. Checking reviews and references, asking for before/after photos, and comparing estimates is key to finding the best contractor.
Once the job has been completed, a reputable roofer will do a walkthrough with you to show you what they’ve done. There are certain areas that you should focus on to inspect their workmanship and completeness.
What to Check
Homeowners may feel unqualified to inspect for quality after roofers have finished the job. However, it is to your benefit to make sure that a proper job is done by checking out certain features.
The following are several common signs that your roofer did a good job.
1. Uniformity
After your roofing project is complete, give it an appropriate visual inspection. An experienced roofing contractor will install shingles from bottom to top, thus creating a more uniform appearance. If the shingles are not uniform or the roofline is sagging, then the roofing job is bad.
Mismatched shingles are a common sign of your contractor cutting corners and can lead to additional damage. A difference in materials may also mean that the new sections of the roof will age at a different rate than the rest of the roof, leading to further repair jobs down the road.
2. A Clean Job Site
Responsible roofing companies will leave your property as they found it. After the roof has been replaced, the area surrounding the working site should be clean.
Good contractors ensure that they leave the landscape intact. It should never be the responsibility of the homeowner or business owner to pick up after the roofing contractor.
That means that after job is done, the contractor will pick up any excess materials and scraps from the yard. A roofing contractor may also bring a dumpster to the site to ensure that no shingles, nails, extra supplies, and other harmful materials are left around the home.
3. Method of Inspection
A good contractor will give your property a rigorous examination before starting the job. Take notice of how your contractor assessed your property. Were they thorough in their questions about your property? A good contractor will take the time to answer any questions you may have about the job and explain what needs to be done and why.
4. Flashing
To prevent any future water leaks, any good contractor should install flashing materials around the edge of your roof, vent pipes, and chimneys. These are areas that are prone to leaks. Some contractors will replace metal flashing with a sealant or caulking to save on costs, but this will only cause more roofing problems down the line.
5. Quality Underlayment
The underlayment protects your home’s structure and extends your roof’s life cycle.
A protective underlayment material should be placed in between the shingle and sheath. During winter, snow creates ice dams on the roof. The protective underlayment must be appropriately placed to shield water and ice from forming at the roofline, forcing water to flow underneath the shingles.
6. Proper Sheathing
Before replacing a roof, a professional contractor will take the time to correct the roof’s sheathing. Over time, sheathing may become loose due to failure to nail the entire section of sheathing or because not enough nails were used.
When the sheathing is not correctly nailed, the nails can pop out. This creates holes that cause the shingles to blow off or crack, which eventually leads to leaks.
7. Strategically Placed Nails
Different roofs require different nails. Choosing the wrong size, spacing them too far apart, or nailing the shingles too low can result in the shingles dislodging in the next major storm.
Nails should be strategically placed to safeguard shingles from being blown off or becoming loose. A shingle that is not nailed correctly will eventually result in a leaky roof.
Trusted Roofing Professionals
If you choose a reputable and experienced roofer to handle your roofing the completed job will reflect high-quality craftsmanship. There should be no warning signs before, during or after the project.
At Brian Dawson Roofing, we take great pride in providing superior results and customer service to our customers. If you need your roof inspected, repaired, or replaced, we’re the ones to call.
Contact us today for a free consultation.