The Most Common DIY Roofing Mistakes in the Denver Area
August 29, 2018
Taking the initiative to fix or replace your own roof in Denver can seem like a great way to save money and avoid the hassle of finding and hiring a professional contractor to complete the work. While this may seem like an attractive option for many cash-conscious consumers, it can often end in unnecessary headache and stress, as mistakes can easily be made by individuals who lack the experience and knowledge to successfully complete the job. If you are considering doing your next roofing project on your own, here are some of the most common DIY roofing mistakes to consider before taking the plunge.
One of the most basic components of any roof are the shingles, the flat, typically rectangular element that is installed to keep out the elements and shield the interior of your structure. Shingles which are installed improperly can lead to a cascading series of problems, which can be extremely challenging and difficult to reverse without performing extensive and time-consuming repairs to correct the mistake.
Shingle installation errors can include things such as installing the starter shingles incorrectly. These shingles are installed along the eaves of your roof as a way to prevent water from making its way under the bottom shingles’ cutouts. Often, do-it-yourselfers will install these shingles in the incorrect location or will simply not install these shingles altogether, inevitably leading to a leaky roof and other serious issues. Additionally, a very prevalent issue that DIYers will run into is aligning the shingles incorrectly, leading to an unsightly and possibly dysfunctional roof.
Another common mistake made by DIY folk is when the shingle overhang is done improperly. Shingles should hang over a roof approximately one inch to an inch and a half depending on how or if the drip edge flashing is also installed. An improperly installed shingle overhang can lead to shingles blowing off with the presence of high winds with an excessive overhang. However, if the overhang isn’t enough it can eventually lead to water seeping into rake or fascia boards, adding another complication to an already highly annoying situation.
An embarrassing shingle installation mistake that rookie roofers often make is to select mismatched shingles to install onto the surface of their new roof. There’s nothing worse than diligently and meticulously installing shingles onto your roof, spending countless hours of hard labor, only to realize that you’ve installed mismatched shingles. Though a shingle may appear to be the same style and type, it may end up being a different shingle, which can be a major headache to undo after the fact. Professional roofing companies make sure to use a consistent source of shingles, ensuring this kind of issue never occurs.
A roof valley is the where an internal angle is formed by the intersection of two sloping sections of a roof. This section of a roof is one of the areas that is most prone to flooding due to the fact that this part of the roof handles on of the largest volumes of water runoff. Roof valley flashings are the material that is installed over joints to prevent water seeping in, making it especially important that this part of the roof is installed correctly.
If a roof valley flashing is installed improperly, it can lead to serious leaks and damage other elements of your building’s structure, a nightmare for any homeowner or business. Often, amateur roof installers will install the flashing on top of the shingles, which will almost certainly lead to issues as the roof valley flashing is supposed to be layered underneath the shingles.
In addition to mistakes that are made throughout the installation process of roof valley flashings, another common occurrence which can wreak havoc upon the lifespan of a roof is due to an insufficient securing of the valley flashing. Amateur roof installers will often apply an inadequate amount of sealant or securing materials to the flashing, which can lead to leads and can cause the flashing to eventually buckle.
Contrary to what a do-it-yourselfer might want to believe, there are many elements to plan for and take into account when installing a new roof. There are plenty of parts that, if not sufficiently planned and accounted for, can create issues after the roof installation process has finished. One of these issues is not planning for and defending against the possibility of ice dam formations. These pesky and problemsome structures form in cold weather climates at the roofline, forcing water underneath the shingles if there is inadequate insulation. This can lead to leaks as well as serious damage to the structure of the roof itself.
Another common occurrence that amateur roofers will make in the process of installing a new roof is to improperly use nails when installing the shingles. Shingles which have an insufficient or poorly installed amount of nails in them are much more prone to blowing off or having other serious issues to deal with. While it can be easy to believe that the act of nailing a shingle is a simple and straightforward process, one should be aware of the fact that the amount of nails which need to be used can also depend upon how steep the surface of a roof is, something which an inexperienced roofer may not take into account.
If you are in need of roofing services for your home or office, avoid doing it yourself and hire professional and competent contractors to get the job done. In this area, The Roof Dr. has you covered. We offer both residential and commercial roofing options for whatever your situation may be. We are a Colorado owned and operated business, and have been building roofs in the Denver metro area since 1971. Our team of qualified and experienced professionals are there to ensure the job is done as efficiently and affordably as possible. If you are need of a roofing repair or replacement, or you simply have questions about our services, contact us today!
Go Back Shingle Installation Errors
One of the most basic components of any roof are the shingles, the flat, typically rectangular element that is installed to keep out the elements and shield the interior of your structure. Shingles which are installed improperly can lead to a cascading series of problems, which can be extremely challenging and difficult to reverse without performing extensive and time-consuming repairs to correct the mistake.
Shingle installation errors can include things such as installing the starter shingles incorrectly. These shingles are installed along the eaves of your roof as a way to prevent water from making its way under the bottom shingles’ cutouts. Often, do-it-yourselfers will install these shingles in the incorrect location or will simply not install these shingles altogether, inevitably leading to a leaky roof and other serious issues. Additionally, a very prevalent issue that DIYers will run into is aligning the shingles incorrectly, leading to an unsightly and possibly dysfunctional roof.
Another common mistake made by DIY folk is when the shingle overhang is done improperly. Shingles should hang over a roof approximately one inch to an inch and a half depending on how or if the drip edge flashing is also installed. An improperly installed shingle overhang can lead to shingles blowing off with the presence of high winds with an excessive overhang. However, if the overhang isn’t enough it can eventually lead to water seeping into rake or fascia boards, adding another complication to an already highly annoying situation.
An embarrassing shingle installation mistake that rookie roofers often make is to select mismatched shingles to install onto the surface of their new roof. There’s nothing worse than diligently and meticulously installing shingles onto your roof, spending countless hours of hard labor, only to realize that you’ve installed mismatched shingles. Though a shingle may appear to be the same style and type, it may end up being a different shingle, which can be a major headache to undo after the fact. Professional roofing companies make sure to use a consistent source of shingles, ensuring this kind of issue never occurs.
Valley Flashing Problems
A roof valley is the where an internal angle is formed by the intersection of two sloping sections of a roof. This section of a roof is one of the areas that is most prone to flooding due to the fact that this part of the roof handles on of the largest volumes of water runoff. Roof valley flashings are the material that is installed over joints to prevent water seeping in, making it especially important that this part of the roof is installed correctly.
If a roof valley flashing is installed improperly, it can lead to serious leaks and damage other elements of your building’s structure, a nightmare for any homeowner or business. Often, amateur roof installers will install the flashing on top of the shingles, which will almost certainly lead to issues as the roof valley flashing is supposed to be layered underneath the shingles.
In addition to mistakes that are made throughout the installation process of roof valley flashings, another common occurrence which can wreak havoc upon the lifespan of a roof is due to an insufficient securing of the valley flashing. Amateur roof installers will often apply an inadequate amount of sealant or securing materials to the flashing, which can lead to leads and can cause the flashing to eventually buckle.
Poor Planning and Craftsmanship
Contrary to what a do-it-yourselfer might want to believe, there are many elements to plan for and take into account when installing a new roof. There are plenty of parts that, if not sufficiently planned and accounted for, can create issues after the roof installation process has finished. One of these issues is not planning for and defending against the possibility of ice dam formations. These pesky and problemsome structures form in cold weather climates at the roofline, forcing water underneath the shingles if there is inadequate insulation. This can lead to leaks as well as serious damage to the structure of the roof itself.
Another common occurrence that amateur roofers will make in the process of installing a new roof is to improperly use nails when installing the shingles. Shingles which have an insufficient or poorly installed amount of nails in them are much more prone to blowing off or having other serious issues to deal with. While it can be easy to believe that the act of nailing a shingle is a simple and straightforward process, one should be aware of the fact that the amount of nails which need to be used can also depend upon how steep the surface of a roof is, something which an inexperienced roofer may not take into account.
If you are in need of roofing services for your home or office, avoid doing it yourself and hire professional and competent contractors to get the job done. In this area, The Roof Dr. has you covered. We offer both residential and commercial roofing options for whatever your situation may be. We are a Colorado owned and operated business, and have been building roofs in the Denver metro area since 1971. Our team of qualified and experienced professionals are there to ensure the job is done as efficiently and affordably as possible. If you are need of a roofing repair or replacement, or you simply have questions about our services, contact us today!