Category: Roofing

In this installment of our series on roofing problems, we’ll talk about the risks of repairing your roof with DIY unsafe fixes.

It can be tempting to think that DIY repairs on your roof will save you money. But for most people, it’s not really a money saver at all. Doing your own roof repairs may void the warranty on your roof.

The fix is not always as easy as you think, and there’s a good chance that you might miss the forest for the trees and put a band-aid on a problem without addressing its cause.

Most of all, though, making repairs on your roof can be very dangerous. Even with the right tools and equipment, and in ideal weather conditions, there’s a method to moving around on a roof.

The Fix

You may hesitate to call a roofer because of costs but doing repairs yourself may end up costing you more in time, tools, and stress.

Think of roof repairs as a long-term investment in the value of your home.

Professional repairs won’t be a “quick fix”. They’ll be done well, safely, quickly, and will extend the life of your roof for years.

A professional roofing company has the right tools, experience, and know-how to identify the problem and fix the issue once and for all. You can rest easy that the job was done properly, and that it will help prevent future problems.

Stay tuned, in the coming weeks, for the next installments in our series on roof problems.

Other posts in the Roofing Problems series:

In this installment of our series on roofing problems, we’ll talk about the risks of incorrectly aligned shingles.

It’s not a plane, it’s a flying shingle!

If you’re finding shingles in your yard or garden, and you have a relatively new roof, there’s a good chance the shingles were incorrectly installed.

When shingles are misaligned or improperly installed, they won’t stay put. Sometimes they’re lined up correctly, sometimes they’re bunched too close together, and sometimes they’re simply poorly nailed or sealed down.

How will you know? You’ll see curling shingles or shingles flapping in the wind. You may see leaking in the attic, stains, mold or paint damage.

The Fix

Reputable roofing companies will take the time that’s needed to correctly install shingles in the right formation and nail them down in the correct manner. This will weatherproof your roof and ensure rainwater doesn’t make its way into your home.

If your roof is in need of repair, don’t despair. When you catch them early, repairs can be inexpensive and add years to your roof’s life.

Your roofer will check for missing or broken shingles, dark stains, soft spots in the decking and weathered areas, and will remove built up debris that can cause moss and mold to grow.

Stay tuned, in the coming weeks, for the next installments in our series on roof problems.

Other posts in the Roofing Problems series:

In this installment of our series on roofing problems, we’ll talk about why good ventilation is an integral part of your roof, and the risks you run from faulty ventilation.

Good ventilation is an integral part of your roof.

If you find that you have temperature extremes between top and bottom parts of your house, it could be due to faulty ventilation.

If it’s not done well, it can make your home too cold or too hot and affect how much moisture stays in the attic or roofing area. This can mean mold and moisture issues and hefty energy bills!

Ventilation can extend the life of your shingles and roof and can reduce the formation of ice dams.

The Fix

A professional roofing company will inspect your attic and roof to check if ventilation is appropriate.

They’ll check to see that exhaust and intake vents are properly installed and may add eave venting or ridge venting to prevent moisture from building up. Whenever possible, they’ll use natural roof ventilation to keep air flowing.

With the proper ventilation, you’ll also save on energy costs.

Stay tuned, in the coming weeks, for the next installments in our series on roof problems.

Other posts in the Roofing Problems series:

In this installment of our series on roofing problems, we’ll talk about the importance of inspecting your roof, and some tips for doing it.

Inspecting your roof can extend its life. It’s like keeping an eye on your roof’s general ‘health’.

Why inspect your roof? It ages just like any other materials, and with time, your roof may develop a leak. In addition, storms and bad weather can loosen tiles and shingles and blow them right off your roof.

Trees and debris can fall on the roof (even when it’s not storming) and damage shingles and gutters, leading to problems.

Maintenance done, or new equipment fitted on your roof, like a satellite dish, solar panels, or even an air conditioner, can sometimes cause unintentional damage to the roof.

Leaving it too long before repairing your roof can cost you more in the long run. Your roof is the first line of shelter from the elements, and it’s important that it stays in good condition.

The Fix

Check on the general state of your roof twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter – but do it from solid ground.

Make a quick inspection after a bad storm, to make sure all your shingles are still in place. Walk around your house on the ground and look up on the roof for damage, broken or missing shingles, and debris.

Keep an eye on stained or weathered areas of your roof – they may need replacing soon.

Don’t neglect missing or broken shingles. They’ll already be letting water in, and while it may be a slow trickle at first, it will be doing damage inside your roof system long before you notice water dripping inside your home.

A professional roof inspection will call out all the potential issues and will find the point of entry of water (which can sometimes be far from the actual leak).

Stay tuned, in the coming weeks, for the next installments in our series on roof problems.

Other posts in the Roofing Problems series:

In this installment of our series on roofing problems, we’ll talk about the risks of not having an ice dam, and what to do about it.

Portland can have some nasty winter weather. It’s during these times that our abundant Portland precipitation can accumulate on your roof in the form of snow or ice. This can cause damming which can cause damage to your home.

Ridges of ice at the edge of your roof can stop melting snow from draining from your roof, and can cause serious damage to the roof itself, gutters, insulation, paint and walls, inside and out.

When an ice dam extends back into the shingle, the ice can melt and leak back under the shingles and into the roof sheathing.

Ice dams usually happen when there’s inadequate attic or roof ventilation, especially if the attic is heated. They can also form if your gutters or down spouts are clogged.

The Fix

Fixing ice dams involves preventing them in the first place. That means checking and improving vents and insulation, removing heat from the attic, and getting more ventilation under the roof deck.

Keeping the roof deck close to the outside temperature will help, and that can be achieved with the right ventilation. This will help the air flow from the underside of the roof eaves to the ridge of the roof.

If you’re reroofing, you can waterproof the roof deck with self-sealing ice and water barriers under the shingles. The easy DIY solution? Buy a roof rake and remove the snow (from solid ground) after a heavy snow storm, before it melts and turns to ice dams.

Stay tuned, in the coming weeks, for the next installments in our series on roof problems.

Other posts in the Roofing Problems series:

In this installment of our series on roofing problems, we’ll talk about hiring a roofer without license, bond and insurance credentials.

Roofing scams are common. It can be tempting to hire a roofing contractor because their prices are low. What are some of the reasons for the low prices?

Check the roofing contractor’s credentials. Are they licensed, bonded and insured? These are costly for contractors and sometimes a low bid means these credentials are not part of the product they are selling.

Roofers who aren’t local may present themselves at your door (particularly after a bad storm) and offer to do the job. But where will they be in the future, if something goes wrong? Can they warranty their work?

Some scams also involve people calling you and convincing you that expensive repairs need to be done.

The Fix

Be cautious.

Always check the license, bond, insurance and credentials of a roofing contractor. Professional roofing companies are proud of their experience and qualifications and will be happy to show them to you. Ask for references.

Good roofing companies are usually busy, and don’t need to solicit door-to-door. Check their reputation and ask for testimonials.

Beware of prices that seem too good to be true – they usually are. Make sure you understand exactly what is and isn’t covered by the quote. A reputable contractor will present you with a written quote with clearly defined details.

Lastly, all professional roofing companies have liability insurance, as required by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. They’ll be happy to provide you with the proof of their license and insurance. If they cannot present proof of license or insurance, they are not a reputable contractor.

Stay tuned, in the coming weeks, for the next installments in our series on roof problems.

In this installment of our series on roofing problems, we’ll talk about incorrect overhang of shingles.

Simply put, this is faulty installation where the shingles extend too far over the edge of the roof or are too close to the edge.

Too little overhang and the water can leak through into fascia boards. Too much and the shingles can blow off.

It’s a fine balance, but one that professional roofers know all about.

The Fix

The edge of the shingles should hang over the edge of the roof between an inch and an inch and a half — or between a half inch and three-quarters of an inch if drip edge flashing is installed (and in most cases, it should be).

Knowledgeable roofers will install shingles at just the right overhang for your roof type.

Stay tuned, in the coming weeks, for the next installments in our series on roof problems.

Other posts in the Roofing Problems series

Letting your Gutters Get Out of Control

Repairing your Roof with DIY Unsafe Fixes

Incorrectly Aligned Shingles

Lack of Ventilation

Not Inspecting your Roof

Not Having an Ice Dam

Hiring a Roofer without License, Bond and Insurance credentials

Incorrect Overhang of Shingles

Incorrectly Installed Flashing

Incorrectly Nailed-in Shingles

Top 10 Roofing Problems, and How to Solve Them

In this installment of our series on roofing problems, we’ll talk about incorrectly installed flashing.

Flashing is very important for keeping a roof watertight. Improperly installed flashing will invariably leak. Some parts of the roof (like roof valleys) are naturally more prone to leaks because there’s so much water running off them. Sometimes the pan flashing at dormer windows can be put in wrong allowing water to travel under the shingles and cause damage to the structure of your home.

The Fix

Professional roofers will correctly install new flashing to make sure that it is in the proper position to channel water over the top of the shingles. Flashing can sometimes be the weakest link, so the right materials must be used for each part of your roof to keep it watertight.

Professional roofers know the right sealant to use to waterproof your roof, your homes first line of defense against rainwater!

Stay tuned, in the coming weeks, for the next installments in our series on roof problems.

In this installment of our series on roofing problems, we’ll talk about incorrectly nailed-in shingles.

Are you finding leaks in several places, but not finding the source?

This could be because the nails were incorrectly installed on the shingles. Too few nails, or nails placed improperly can lead to leaks that may go undetected for a long time. The water can run through the shingles and travel before you start to see a leak inside the house.

If nails are placed incorrectly, they may be exposed to excessive water which will cause them to rust. As the nail breaks down from rusting, the water then seeps in beneath the single and soaks into the structure.

Incorrectly placed nails or too few nails can also mean loose shingles that flap in the wind… and end up in your garden!

The Fix

Most asphalt shingles need to be nailed in at least four places, sometimes more in cases of steeper pitched roofs. They also must be installed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, as each material type may need a different nailing pattern.

Keith Green Construction, Inc. installs 6 nails on each shingle as a standard business practice. This qualifies the customer for an enhanced wind warranty.

A professional roofer who has been trained and certified by the manufacturer will place the nails precisely according to the manufacturers’ specifications. Correct nail placement is a key ingredient in a watertight roof.

The proper fastener and waterproofing membrane in the valley areas of the roof are also key to making a roof sound.

Stay tuned, in the coming weeks, for the next installments in our series on roof problems.

Other posts in the Roofing Problems series: