Common Rooftop Blunders That’ll Cost You Thousands
When it comes to your home, the roof is one of the most important features. After all, it’s responsible for protecting you and your family from the elements. But even if you take good care of your roof, there’s always a chance for something to go wrong. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some common rooftop blunders that can cost you thousands of dollars. So if you’re planning on doing any repairs or replacements shortly, be sure to read on!
1. Failure to Inspect the Flashing
One of the most common rooftop blunders you can make is not inspecting your flashing. If your roofer forgets to seal up your chimney, or skips a step and doesn’t cover it with tar paper, then heat and water can get in and cause major damage. Even if you don’t see any evidence of leaks right away, there’s still a chance that water has gotten inside which means rot may already be setting in. So what should you do if you missed this step? A new roof isn’t necessarily your only option. You might want to consider having metal flashing installed around the edge of the roofline. Try calling R&R Metal Roofing for more information about repairing or replacing your existing roof.
2. Failure to Replace a Skylight Cover
If you have a skylight on your roof, it’s important to make sure that the cover has been removed before any work is done. Otherwise, debris from your construction project can find its way into the skylight and damage the interior of your home. If there is any damage as a result of neglecting to remove the cover first, then you’ll be forced to replace it as well as the skylight itself which will cost you even more money!
3. Overuse of Dormer Valleys
A dormer valley is a small area on top of a roof where two sloping planes come together. The reason they’re used in place of regular valleys is that they help direct rainwater around the opening of the window and away from your interior. But sometimes, homeowners make the mistake of using a valley when it isn’t necessary or is too small to handle heavy amounts of water. These errors can result in leaks that cause damage to your roof and even lead to mold forming inside. If you’re not sure whether or not you need a dormer valley on your roof, be sure to ask an expert about what would work best for your home before any construction begins.
4. Neglecting Your Roof After Installing Gutters
It may seem like a good idea at the time, but adding gutters without also working on your roof can cost you more money than if you simply fixed your roofing instead. That’s because gutters are meant to direct rain away from your home, but if you don’t also install downspouts or splash blocks, then the water is just going to flow right over the edge of your gutters and onto your rooftop. And with no way for it to be redirected away from the house, that means it will most likely cause leakage…which can lead to even more expensive repairs!
5. Neglecting Your Roof When Replacing Siding
It may not seem like a big deal when you first remove the siding on an older home but neglecting to fix even small cracks in your shingles can result in leaks which trigger more problems further down the road. So before replacing any siding, be sure to fix any cracks or holes you find on your roof first. That way, the next time it rains, there won’t be a chance for leaks to form as a result of neglecting to patch up those areas.
6. Using Cheap Shingles
Normally, shingles are installed in layers that overlap one another with each pass of the roofer’s rake. This helps prevent seams from being exposed which can lead to leaks and other problems down the road. But if you opt for cheap asphalt shingles, they will most likely crack along these seams before too long so you’ll have no choice but to replace them. And what happens when you have to do this over and over again? You guessed it…you’ll end up spending more money than if you had just gotten shingles made by a reputable brand in the first place.
7. Failure to Inspect for Damage
It’s easy to let things slide when it comes time for the annual inspection of your roof, but doing so could come back to haunt you later on which is why inspections are extremely important. If parts of your roof are allowed to go unchecked for too long, they can easily cause leaks which will cause severe damage inside. So always remember to have your roof inspected regularly and on schedule so that you don’t have any trouble with unexpected expenses or extensive repairs.