A great roofing job isn’t only skin deep... If there’s one thing we’ve learned from our years of repairing roofs, it’s that a seemingly good-looking roof can be full of failures. Our expert roofing team shares their thoughts about a disastrous flat roof installation riddled with mistakes that will cost this homeowner everything. Here’s a play-by-play of what happened:
Roof Gap Dangers
One of the most confusing features of this roof was a strange hollow area that didn’t seem to serve any purpose other than to provide a home for unwanted pests. Every one of us can agree that a roof should be secure, free from unintentional gaps that allow more than water in.
Skylights Aren't A Risk-Free Beauty
Brightening your home with skylights? These beauties have their weak points! They can harbor potential leak areas, making proper installation and sealing the highest priority. From what we can see, this roofer left a loose entry point perfect for water to get through.
Chimney Calamity
Nothing could prepare us for the moment we saw this botched chimney setup (it even needed its own protective tarp!). Inadequate flashing and bent nails were among the issues that will lead to major problems down the road if not fixed before the elements storm in.
Roof Penetrations: A Critical Checkpoint
Every hole and penetration dooms this home for damage. Their original roofer left behind several glaring gaps just waiting to flood this family. It’s a leaky siege waiting to happen!
Drainage Fail
The water-channeling trough they designed to prevent leaks turned out to be the culprit of even more potential damage. Drainage is the key to safety, especially in the world of flat roofs, and this trough missed the mark by miles.
Torch Down Trouble
This roof installation was a textbook case of torch down terror! With the seal barely holding on, it’s ready to betray the homeowner at the first sign of rain. Chris Dyck, our president, stresses on the importance of getting the torch down to a high enough temperature that will properly seal out any gaps like this. This is the reason hiring a qualified roofer is the only way to put a stop to serious damage.
The Cost
Can it be fixed? From all of the roof damage we’ve seen, a major tear off and re-installation is certainly on the horizon. A roof can look good at first glance, but may have underlying issues that compromise its effectiveness, durability, and your safety.
All of our team members agree that when it comes to roofing, details are paramount. If you're a homeowner, this serves as a reminder of what to look out for, and why cheaper isn’t always better. Even if a high quality roofer costs more at first, it won’t cost double what you signed up for.
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