With the rise in popularity among different video hosting platforms, DIY videos are becoming the rage. While it is great to pick certain skills that can help you create cool art projects or assist in minor repairs, not every project can be turned into a DIY project, especially your roof repairs. Not only do you run the risk of injury, but you can also botch it up badly that it costs you twice to get repaired. You need proper training, different types of equipment, and an in-depth understanding of the project at hand before you can begin conducting repairs.
We believe that life is too short to learn from your own mistakes, so learn from the mistakes of others. In all the collective years of experience that we have, here is a list of the common roofing mistakes we have observed DIY roofers have made.
Most Common Roofing Mistakes
1.Improper Shingle Placement
The shingles are what protects you from the elements. It prevents the damage from high-speed winds as well as prevent water from leaking inside. Even when perfectly placed, windblown rains or snow can force its way through the layer of shingles. So, it is important that your shingles are placed on asphalt-saturated felt underlayment strips that are overlapping each other. Different shingle manufacturers recommend different rake edges to start shingling (the process of laying shingles). Unless you lay your shingles with respect to a reference line, there is a great chance that you might end up with an unlevelled shingle arrangement. Most DIY roofers fail to follow a correct laying process and end up with gaps within shingles.
2. Sub-par Ventilation
Depending on the construction of the house, you may have an attic right below the roof. The air inside the house is full of moisture and unless you have a good ventilation system in place, the air remains trapped. The moisture build-up can cause the roof support to wear out prematurely and compromise the insulation. The problems leading from sub-par ventilation will make the air in the attic smell musty, increase your energy bill due to damaged insulation, as well as cause health issues such as acute respiratory illness (ARIs), trigger asthma symptoms from poor air quality.
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3. Incorrect Flashing Installation
Flashing Installation is an important step during roof replacement as it forms a barrier against heavy rains and prevents water from seeping in. A common roofing mistake installing Metal Roofing Tyler tx is that the step flashing is nailed to the wall instead of the roof. So, the water has the chance to seep in and get accumulated in the gap and result in rotting or cracks in wall panels. Moreover, improper flashing means the sealants and other components will be exposed to the elements and this will reduce their lifespan.
4. Nail Placement
In order to keep the shingles in the place. It is important to fix your shingles with four nails to avoid it slipping. For high windy areas, it is advised to have a minimum of six nails to prevent them from blowing away. You need to follow a pattern while placing nails. This ensures clean removals in case of mistakes as well as prevent warping if the shingles expand. Moreover, the common nail roofing mistake is to drive the nails all the way through. You need to make sure that the nails don’t puncture the self-sealing strip.
5. Improper Slope
Different shingle manufacturers offer shingles of varying thicknesses. Most DIY roofers choose the wrong material and this leaves their roof with an improper slope. This causes water to flow the wrong way and the walls or surrounding structures become susceptible to damage from the elements. Moreover, due to improper slope, you may encounter shingle overhang. Too much overhang and the shingles can blow away in high winds. On the contrary, if the shingles don’t hang an inch or an inch and half, water running off the roof will fall into the rake and seep in.
6. Lack of Safety
The gravest mistake any DIY roofer can do is disregard the importance of practicing safety while undertaking repair projects. Since you don’t have all the safety equipment that a professional roofer like Steele Roofing has, you run the risk of physical injury from falling and even damage to the roofing structures.
What Is The Correct Way To Avoid To Common Mistakes When Roofing
Due to poor workmanship, performing a DIY roof repair is not recommended. It is time-efficient and cost-effective to hire a professional roofing contractor as you not only pay for the expertise but also for the excellent workmanship that can greatly improve the life of your roofs. Get in touch for quick consultation from one of our experts.
