Reasons Why A Brand New Roof Can Fail

July 30, 2019

Your roof is a large investment that should last you around twenty to thirty years. Sure, your current roof CAN last you nearly a third of your entire lifetime but that doesn’t mean it WILL last that long. Sometimes it can even fail a few years after its installation if care is not taken.

Skimping out on Maintenance

Making sure that your roof is maintained is the best way to make sure that your roof lasts as long as it should. There are a few things to look out for as these will accelerate your roof’s deterioration. These include

• Plant debris like leaves and branches. These will damage your roof by allowing weeds to grow on it and blocking gutters and downspouts. This will lead to water pooling in them and corroding not only the gutter and downspouts but also your roof.
• Solid debris like scrap metal, small parts and stones. These can cause issues as they can cause depressions on your roof. Water, ice and dirt can pool in these depressions and lead to leaks and holes developing faster.
• Wildlife like squirrels, birds and rodents. Letting the local wildlife make a home in and on your roof is a bad idea as they will end up widening any existing cracks and holes or make new ones to accommodate their nests. Either have pest control handle their removal or get rid of them yourself by using traps or repellant.

The lack of maintenance would not only make your roof look like a lush forest of moss and mold but also cut its lifespan by several years. So keeping your brand new roof well maintained and clean will make sure that it doesn’t fail prematurely.

Abuse and Neglect

Abusing your roof is definitely the last thing on your mind if you want to keep your roof brand new for as long as possible. But there are several things that you do to your roof that might seem mundane but will inevitably lead to your roof being damaged in the long run.

• Bolting objects on your roof. This can cause cracks that can widen over time. This will not only cause leaks but could also lead to your roof collapsing when the strain becomes too much.
• Walking on your roof can cause issues as your weight can cause cracks or depressions on it. If you absolutely need to get on top of your roof, make sure to spread your weight by widening your gait.
• Debris left on your roof after either a roofing job or other installation can damage your roof.

Contractor Mistakes and Scams

Did you know that you can unknowingly reduce the lifespan of your roof before its even been installed by getting a bad contractor?

Getting a bad contractor can lead to your roof having a much shorter lifespan than the norm. They can end up installing your roof and do a pretty terrible job of it. You’re going to notice early on that their installation of your roof is a complete mess from these signs

• The installation shingles is uneven and has no uniformity. Not only is it ugly to look at, it’s also going to have gaps in the shingles that will let water and other debris fall through.
• They use subpar materials when working on your roof. This is similar to trying to use duct tape to seal the side of a sinking boat. It isn’t going to last long.
• They do not replace your entire roof and simply put a “new” layer on the old decking. Your old decking is mostly soggy and moist from all the leaks from the last roof and it will not be able to hold nails and shingles properly. Eventually the “new” roof will end up having to be replaced again.

To them your roof is just another paycheck and they will try to cut corners to save as much money as possible on your roofing job. To make sure that your roofing job is properly done, check the paperwork and former projects of your roofing contractor to make sure you’re getting the real deal and not getting scammed.