How Do You Know if Your Contractor Did a Bad Job on Your Roof?

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Unless you’re friends with a roofer, you probably find a roofer the same way everyone else does. You go online and look for local roofers in your area. You have no choice but to trust what the company’s website says. It’s not like you have many other options. That’s why it’s so disappointing when your roofer does a bad job on your roof. Unfortunately, there’s no way to know they did a bad job until your roofer is finished. Even then, it’s not like you can climb up on your roof and check it out. You have to take your contractor’s word for it.

While most roofers work hard and do excellent work, there are some that just don’t pass muster. Either they don’t take pride in their work, or they do a bad job for some other reason. Some of these reasons include:

  • They’re incompetent
  • They ran out of materials and substituted sub-quality materials
  • They typically cut corners
  • They were rushed and didn’t take the time necessary to complete the job
  • Their staff are inexperienced
  • They simply never finished the job

If you’ve recently had your roof repaired or replaced, it’s important that you review the work. Ask the contractor to take pictures of your roof when they’d completely finished. If anything stands out to you, ask them to explain it.

Here are some of the ways you can tell if your roofer did a bad job. If you experience any of these issues, you need to follow up with your contractor and make sure they repair or finish the job.

You’re Missing Edging or Flashing

In order to protect your home, your roofer needs to install the appropriate drip edge flashing. This should be installed around the perimeter of your roof. Without this flashing, your home is susceptible to both water damage and pest infestations.

All roofs that have shingles require drip edge flashing. If you’re experiencing leaks or moisture in your home even after your roof if replaced, there’s a problem. Your roofer may have skimped on the flashing or simply didn’t install it properly.

Your Roof Doesn’t Have a Uniform Appearance

When your roofer is finished making their repairs, your roof should have a uniform appearance. Your contractor should have used consistent materials throughout your roof. This means it should look the same in all areas.

This is why you always want to check out the finished work when your roofer is done. If you can’t get up on the roof yourself, you need to ask the roofer to take pictures and show them to you. Look for any uneven spots. Are all of the shingles the same color? Does it look like there are different types of materials used across the roof? If so, your roofer has some explaining to do. You’re paying top dollar for your roofing repairs. The last thing you should worry about it whether or not your roof has a uniform appearance.

Are the Shingles Nailed on Properly?

It may sound like a small thing, but it’s important that the shingles are nailed on properly. If the roofer applied too much pressure, the nails will be in too deep. This will be evident if you see spots that look sunken in or buried.

The other issue has to do with the types of nails your roofer did. If the nails look rusty, it’s because your roofer didn’t use quality materials. In order to make sure they’re weather resistant, your roofer should use either stainless steel or galvanized steel nails.

Do You Have Rotted Roof Decking?

When you hire someone to repair your roof, the expectation is that they’ll use new materials. Some roofers try to cut corners or save time and money. One way they do this is by putting a new roof on top of old decking.

The problem with this is that, underneath the new shingles, you could have decrepit decking. There could be rotted plywood underneath. If this is the case, you’re going to end up with leaks and moisture. You’ll be hiring another roofer to repair your roof again in a few years.

Contact an Experienced Roofer in Greenville, South Carolina

If you’re afraid your roofer did a sub-par job, you should have your roof checked out by a competent roofing professional in Greenville. The experts at Lanier Roofing in Greenville, South Carolina can review your roof and let you know if there are any problems. If there are issues with your roof, the professionals at Lanier can provide an estimate of what it will cost to fix them.

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