Roof is arguably the most important part of a home. Your roof provides protection against the weather elements such as rain, snow, heat, and hail. That’s why it’s important to take all roofing projects seriously.

To ensure that your roofing project completes successfully, here are six roofing mistakes you need to avoid at all cost.

1. Mismatch Between Slope and Materials

A common mistake most people make is selecting the wrong material that doesn’t match the slope of the house. Using the wrong material for the slope can lead to water leakage problems.

You should use a roof material depending on the slant and pitch of the roof.

• Asphalt shingles, slate shingles, and wood are recommended for moderate and steep slope roofs having a minimum of 5-feet rise over a 12-unit horizontal distance.
• The best materials for low steep slope roof with a minimum of 2.5 rises include clay tile, cement tiles, and standing-seam metal.
• Rubber membrane, built-up, and torch-down roofing are recommended for flat roofs.

2. Under or Over Driven Nails

Another roofing mistake is under or overdriven nails. This mistake usually happens in haste to get the job done quickly.

Under driven nails will result in space between the shingles. On the other hand, over driven nails can damage the shingles. Both the mistakes can result in water leaking through the roof that can lead to costly structural damage.

3. Installing Shingles on the Existing Ones

Some contractors seem to take the statement ‘Time is Money’ a bit too far. They try to save cost by installing shingles on top of the existing one.

Many fake roofing ‘experts’ also encourage homeowners to install new shingles over the existing ones.

But this is a serious roofing mistake that clearly violates the building code. Building Code of Alabama mandate that all existing roof coverings should be removed when re-roofing.

Installing new roofing material on an existing roof can negatively affect the structural integrity of the building.

4. Roof Flashing Installation

A serious roofing mistake relates to the flashing of the roof. The flashing should be installed properly to avoid water leakage.

One mistake is not using enough sealant when installing the flashing.

Another mistake is installing the valley flashing on top of the shingles instead of layering it underneath the material.

Both the mistakes can lead to accelerated deterioration of flashing and shingle.

5. Not Taking Account of Ice Dams

Huntsville, Alabama receives about 2 inches of snow each year. But a lot of amateur contractors and homeowners don’t take this account during a roofing project.

When constructing a roof in cold climates, it’s important that the roof should be properly insulated. Ice dams that form on the roof can damage the shingles due to improper insulation.

To avoid damage due to ice dams, it’s important to put a three feet underlayer in the roof. This will add an additional layer of protection against the melting ice.

6. Not Installing Crickets Behind the Chimney

Not installing crickets in a home with the chimney is yet another roofing mistake.

Crickets made of shingles, wood, or metal can be installed behind the chimney. This prevents water from permeating through the chimney thereby avoiding water damage.

The above roofing mistakes can be avoided if hire an experienced Huntsville Roofing Company. Make sure that the Huntsville Roofer that you hire for a roofing project has more than 5 years experience in roof installation. This will save you a lot of money and headache related to a roofing project.

Give us a call 256-325-2277, or email us for a free roof inspection and Free Estimate

Check what some customers are saying

We offer more than roofing, check out our service offerings

We Specialize in maximizing insurance claims and quick turnarounds