How you can tell your new roof is a quality new roof? (Or…How roofing contractors cut corners.)
If you are a Littleton homeowner who has experienced roof damage due to one of the major hail storms that rolled through the area this summer we have some helpful tips and advice to help ensure you get the quality roof you deserve. Remember, there are unscrupulous roofing companies and contractors out there – so beware. If the company is from out-of-state – especially beware! However, if the roofing company is a local Littleton roofing company – like Anderson Builders (and have great Google reviews!) – that’s a much safer option. So Ronald Regan was right when he said…”Trust but Verify.”
Check Your Shingles
The first thing to verify is that the shingle brand and type that are delivered are what you picked out and paid for. And make sure all of the bundles are the same. Keep in mind there are many grades of shingles. If you want your roof to last we recommend using high quality shingles from top manufacturers such as Certain Teed. In fact, Anderson Builders – your local Littleton roofer – almost always installs only high quality Certain Teed roofs shingles.
Roofing Underlayment
Make sure the roofers replace the underlayment of the roof. This felt-like material is installed underneath the shingle against the plywood decking. It is an added layer of protection to your home and helps keep water from seeping into your home.
Beware of reusing old roofing materials
Flashing is the thin piece of sheet metal installed on a roof to prevent water leaking into the home at various joints along the roof. Quality roofing contractors in Littleton and beyond know that the nails used to install the new roof won’t always go through the old holes in the reused flashing. The best way to make sure you’re not going to incur leakage is to replace old flashing wherever possible with new metal flashing.
Trustworthy roofing contractors never skimp on materials. They will be sure to order the right type and the right amount so your roof will be installed correctly.
Adequate ventilation is sometimes skipped over by inexperienced roofers. Consult with your roofer on proper ventilation for your home. Depending on your home make and model it is vital to letting heat escape and it prolongs the life of your roof.
Right nails in the right place
One of the more common roofing mistakes is related to attaching shingles with the wrong nail type, or in the wrong location on the shingle, which will eventually lead to damage. Each shingle has a nail line that should be shot into. If it is missed it can lead to shingles not adhering properly or breaking and leaking. This type of damage is completely preventable. This includes correct type, grade and size of nails, which will differ depending on what materials they’re being used.
Quality roofing crews are trained to use the correct nails. However choosing the cheapest contractor can mean they are inexperienced or cutting corners and that materials may be attached incorrectly because they don’t follow local and/or state building codes.
Unfortunately, these signs usually don’t present themselves immediately, which means a new roof that is improperly installed might look perfectly fine at first, but after a year or so, the imperfections begin to cause issues. Make sure you have a final inspection by a building inspector to help protect you as the home owner.
Make sure your roofer pulls a building permit when installing a new roof.
Some contractors will pull you aside and say they can save you some money if they don’t pay for the building permit. While the idea of saving money might be tempting the reality is that the Local Building Inspector helps ensure that your roof has been installed properly.
Use Local, Experienced Contractors
As you can see there are a number of ways that roofing contractors can cut corners while installing a roof. Many of those shortcuts are not very easy to recognize unless you have a trained eye. Ultimately, trust a local Littleton roofing companies, like Anderson Builders LLC. We have an established reputation over 14 years and great customer reviews. We know the local building codes and draw the appropriate permits on time. Our motto is “quality you can trust” because we want our roofs to last for many years to come.
We invite you to call us today at 303-829-6276 or email us for a FREE roof inspection and see how your Littleton home’s roof condition is in need of repairs.
