Everything you should know before installing skylights

If you are thinking about installing skylights on your roof, don’t rush. Read this article carefully before making any decisions. Consider all aspects and consult with a roofing specialist.

Is something not right?

Looking at your roof, does something seem off? As a homeowner, you may not have the know-how to spot if your roofer has made a mistake when putting on your new roof. But roof installation mistakes do happen, and they can affect the quality and longevity of your roof.

When roofers perform installations, they should follow building codes, manufacturer’s instructions, and industry best practices. When they don’t, it’s possible to detect those problems simply by looking at the roof. Plus, when there is one problem with the installation, there may be more, and that can mean repairs or even replacement costs for you down the road.

Protect your roofing investment and be aware of potential roof installation problems. Below, we’ll describe the signs that your roof may have these problems and what you can do if you know your roof has not been installed correctly.

Missing Components

A roof is made of much more than asphalt shingles. In order to have a proper, water-tight roofing system, other components of a roof are necessary. If any part of the roof was not installed or has fallen off over time, these are signs that your roofers did not pay proper attention to their work on the roof.

Shingles

Are there obvious gaps where your roof shingles should be? Shingles are rarely missing because your roofers didn’t install them in the first place. Instead, it’s much more likely that your roofers tried to put the shingles on, but they blew off in high winds because of improper nailing or because they didn’t seal properly.

You may not be able to see a shingle that has not been properly sealed. However, you may see the signs of improperly nailed shingles. You may notice that they do not lie flat on the roof, but protrude slightly. This is because the nails were not properly driven into the roof. The opposite problem: Some nails were driven too deep, but will not be visible from the ground. Either problem can lead to leaks or other problems.

Overdriven roof shingle nails

There are other nail-related requirements that roofers must follow. Roofing nails must be of the proper material and size. Roofers must also follow the manufacturer’s instructions on where to place the nails in the shingles. If you suspect that your roofer did not use the proper nails, or did not put them in the right place, you can confirm those suspicions with another roofer or a roof inspection company.

If you are missing shingles, it is best to have a roofer inspect the roof and tell you if there are other shingles with improper nailing or failed seams. They may recommend a new roof or you may just need to replace the affected shingles or have them manually sealed.

Waterproofing Membrane

The waterproofing membrane refers to the layer of fabric-like material just below the shingles. It used to be a layer of felt, but synthetic materials are now available. You may not be able to see if the waterproofing membrane is missing if the shingles have already been installed. Or, your roof may appear uneven, with unevenness and unusual high spots. This may be due to improper installation of the waterproofing membrane. If your roofers didn’t completely unroll the waterproofing membrane and lay it flat, it may bunch up in some areas. This bunching may be visible through the shingles as raised gaps or ridges.

If you are not sure what is causing the unusual appearance of your roof, a roofer can take a look under the shingles and find out if the waterproofing membrane was installed correctly.

The waterproofing membrane serves a few key functions, such as protecting the shingles from resin and providing a water barrier and some fire resistance. It is important to have a roofer install it if it is missing from your roof.

Knowing the determinants of roof deterioration can be very useful.

Ice and water shield

The ice and water shield is a second thin material that should be installed along the edges of the roof and at the hip of the roof. The building code and manufacturer’s instructions will dictate how much coverage the ice and water shield needs. Normally, you will not be able to see that the ice and water shield is missing from the floor. However, a roofer can inspect the roof for ice and water damage.

The ice and water shield is vital to protect your roof and is required by most building codes. If you don’t have it installed, you may need a new roof.

Drip Edge

To cut costs, some inexperienced or inexperienced roofers may forget to add a drip edge to a roof. The drip edge is a thin piece of metal flashing placed at the edge of the roof. It directs the flow of water from the edge of the shingles into the gutters. Without flashing, you may begin to notice water damage to the roof and, potentially, the side of your home.

A roofer can add drip edge flashing to a roof that lacks it, but they will need to evaluate the surrounding materials to see if any need to be replaced as well.

Other flashings

In addition to the roof edge, many other spots need to have flashing. Flashing is a thin material that protects vulnerable points on the roof from water intrusion. This includes chimneys, hoya files, dormers, plumbing pipes, and other objects that protrude from the roof. When this flashing is completely missing, the most common sign is a leak. Before that happens, you can look along the roof overhangs for flashing or have a roofer do it for you.

Shingle installation problems

Because they are the top layer of the roof, it is often easier to visually spot shingle installation problems. Even non-roofing experts can sometimes look at the shingle pattern on a roof, compare it to its neighbors, and realize that something is wrong. Here are a few more tips on exactly what you should look for to spot improperly installed asphalt shingles.

Improper Offset

The shingles need to be offset from each other, like bricks in a brick wall. If all the shingle joints line up on the roof, they can create gaps in the shingle layer for water to seep through. One of the most common mistakes in shifting shingles is the alignment of the starter shingles and the first course. At first, this does not seem to cause a problem, but over time leaks can occur. A roofer may also fail to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to offset the other courses of shingles on the roof. These mistakes can also undermine the aesthetic patterns of properly laid shingles. In addition, any improperly offset shingles can create leaks and will need to be replaced.

Alignment

When looking at the roof, shingles should be aligned with the edge of the roof. They should not be vertical or at an angle to this bottom edge. Misaligned shingles may be the result of the roofer starting his installation work somewhere other than the edge of the roof. Or, they may not have added chalk lines on the roof. Chalk lines are temporary guides that help roofers keep the shingle line straight while performing the installation. In either case, misaligned shingles can create strange visual patterns. Sometimes, the roof design forces roofers to make slight adjustments to the alignment of the rows of shingles to accommodate cases where the roof is not square. Otherwise, misaligned shingles may need to be replaced by a roofer.

Exposure

The exposure of the shingle is the amount of shingle that is exposed and not covered by the shingle above it. Manufacturers indicate a specific exposure for their shingles to ensure proper appearance and performance.

Shingle exposure is not just an aesthetic issue. If shingles are spaced too far apart, parts of the shingle that were not designed for it can be exposed to the elements. You can check for yourself if the exposure of your shingles is correct by measuring the distance between the edge of one shingle and the beginning of the next. Then compare that distance to the distance indicated in your shingle installation instructions. If it is too wide or too narrow, you can have them replaced.

Many different signs will tell you if you’re having issues with your roof installation, you just need to pay attention and make sure you deal with them as soon as possible. You need to always make sure to count on the best roofers so you don’t have to deal with these problems.