A Word About Novice Roofing & Insulation Mistakes

It’s important to work with an experienced contractor that is committed to installing leading roofing and insulation products on your home. Here’s the must-know information our COO, Andy Lindus, shared on a recent program.

Listen to the Entire Show Here:

 

Wind and ice dam damage to a roof can leave homeowners questioning whether the best course of action is to repair or replace their roof.  If the roof is new enough and the shingles are still being manufactured, a small section of the roof can be repaired without full replacement.  However, when substantial sections of the roof blow off or the shingles are already near the end of their lifespan, it’s wise to proceed with interviewing roofing contractors to discuss replacement.

Weather as treacherous as this year has quickly booked up reputable home improvement professionals.  This brings to light the need for more skilled labor in the Twin Cities, as many drywallers, insulators and masons are already booked for the season.  

Lindus Construction welcomes those new to the construction industry and has a tiered system in place to ensure that new hires are nurtured and properly educated on safety and installation techniques as they continue to specialize in a particular aspect of the home improvement, such as the installation of siding, decking, or gutters.

Reflections from a 19-Year-Old Lindus Construction Installer: 

Failure to be properly trained in the materials you’re working with can lead to an array of problems.  For example, one rookie roofing mistake is the failure to correctly install underlayment and ice and water shield which can cause water to back up onto the roof, damaging the sheathing.  A common place this can happen is the roof rake, which is the peaked part of a roof.  Frequently, roofers fail to install ice and water shield in this area.  Westward facing roof rakes are particularly vulnerable, as weather most often moves west to east, allowing wind driven rain to get between the shingles and the roof edge.  

Without ice and water shield present, roof decking becomes wet and begins to rot.  Best practice is to install the roof edge, ice and water shield over the top of that, adhering it to the roof deck and then putting underlayment over the top.  The underlayment should be sealed to the roof edge with an additional strip of ice and water shield.  This amount of protection prevents dry rot on the roof deck.

Another novice roofing mistake is installing subpar shingles.  Companies like GAF offer shingles that are accompanied with a 50-year, non-prorated warranty that covers labor and materials.  In addition, the shingles have a wind warranty that cover winds in excess of 130 miles per hour.  While only a handful of shingles blowing off a roof can seem of minimal concern, there is often more widespread damage in the form of broken tar seals.  

Furthermore, if shingles are not installed with the correct number of nails or in the manufacturer’s specified locations, they can also pull away from the roof.  Shingles installed in too cold of weather without additional precautionary steps taken can also fail to adhere to the roof.

Here are Our Tips For a Long-Lasting Roof: 

In the attic, oftentimes amateurs fail to understand the ins and outs of ventilation and attic air sealing.  Special care must be done to ensure that warm, moist air from the lower levels of the home is not getting in the attic and creating mold.  

Ventilation needs to have the proper 60/40 pull from the soffit or fascia vent area up through the roof.  This can be addressed with the installation of a ridge vent system.  In cases where this is not possible, alternatives must be used.  Diagnostic testing, such as the use of blower doors, smoke sticks, or infrared imaging can assist a contractor with creating the perfect road map for your home.

For more information about our roof repair and installation services, contact us today. Our team of roofing experts is ready to serve you.

Our team answers homeowner questions every weekend on WCCO 830 AM from 9:00 am-10:00 am.  Have your most pressing home improvement questions answered by calling or texting 651.461.9226.