If you’re searching for how to fix a bad roofing job, you'll have hundreds of thousands of results to choose from. On the other hand, if you search for “good roofing job”, you might be surprised to find there’s only a few thousand.
Sadly, the roofing industry is not always known for doing great work 100% of the time. Trust us – we’ve been in the roofing supplements game for years. We’ve seen our share of issues.
Now, it’s easy to throw one party under the bus. Maybe you blame the contractors for rushing. Maybe you blame the homeowners for having unfair expectations. Maybe you blame the insurance providers for only wanting to pay the bare minimum.
Instead of blaming people, what matters in any roofing repair situation is finding a way to get your roof done right — and for the right price.
Today, we’re going to share some of the tell-tale signs of a bad roofing job. This will help you understand how to act, who’s responsible, and even how to avoid additional bad roofing jobs in the future.
If your roof has just been repaired, the first rain may be the first test it faces. If it leaks, there’s an issue of some sort.
While the mistake may not be serious – maybe a few nails weren’t installed correctly – it’s important to take action. Let your roofing contractor know immediately there’s something wrong. If you hired a good roofing contractor, they’ll be out to help you find and fix the problem quickly.
On the other hand, if they are not responsive – or worse, if they ignore your calls completely – odds are you’re dealing with a bad roofing job.
The warning sign here is actually less the fact that the roof leaks and more about the contractor’s response. A leaking roof could just be an honest mistake. A poor response from your contractor could be a sign of many other problems just waiting to be revealed.
Another sign of a bad roofing job is a roof that just looks bad.
Sorry to be blunt, but if your roof doesn’t have a clean, uniform appearance, there could be something wrong. Uniform doesn’t mean all the pieces look exactly the same. After all, certain shingle styles have some natural colorings that may differ.
Instead, we refer to the fact that improperly installed shingles may be lifting up. If the shingles are uneven or inconsistent, you’re dealing with a bad roofing job.
This kind of inconsistency is the result of poorly driven nails, shortcuts, and all-around laziness. As we discussed above, if it truly was the result of an accident, your contractor will be out to remedy the situation.
If your contractor is not keen to fix their mistakes, this uneven appearance could lead to some more serious roofing problems sooner rather than later.
Have your kids ever finished a LEGO set, only to find a bunch of pieces that weren’t used?
While leftover pieces are okay when it comes to toy construction, roofing jobs should never miss out on their most critical pieces.
Important roofing components include:
By skipping out on any one of these materials, you’re being exposed to more roof risk down the road.
Knowing that, why would a roofing contractor leave out these pieces?
Everything has a cost. By leaving out what they consider to be less essential, they may be able to estimate a lower bid and win the job.
You can nip this bad roofing job mistake in the bud going over the line items in the estimate. If all of the above are included, you’re in good shape.
An attic is more than just a space to store old photos and holiday decorations. It’s also home to a ventilation system that plays a big part in the overall health of your roof. Should that ventilation not exist, the air that gets trapped up there can negatively impact your roof.
Hot air that gets stuck will deteriorate the decking adhesive and cause shingles to curl and crack.
Cold air mixes with the rising moist, warm air from inside your house, forming condensation that will cause parts of your roof to swell.
In short, whether it’s hot or cold air that gets trapped, your roof suffers. If your roof is suffering, then you’re dealing with a bad roofing job.
This can be avoided by confirming your roofing contractor’s plan for your attic’s ventilation system. They’ll either confirm it is updated and functioning, or suggest a plan for its replacement.
The foundation for your roof system is its decking. When a roof is replaced, it’s normal for a contractor to confirm the integrity of the decking. If any pieces are rotten, they should be replaced.
That’s because rotten decking is compromised and likely cannot handle the installation of new materials. This can result in sagging in spots, as well as mildew and mold that can be hazardous to your family’s health.
The issue with replacing decking is that it’s not something that can be accurately estimated beforehand. Only after the old roof is torn off will a contractor be able to accurately determine the amount.
While some of these signs of a bad roofing job are only evident after the fact, others can be avoided early. This is done by ensuring that all the necessary roofing materials are accounted for in the estimate. Another important part is making sure the insurance company is fully aware of everything that needs to be replaced.
Sometimes, like the case of decking, additional needs may be discovered. Getting those needs paid often means submitting a home supplement. If you are new to submitting these kinds of claims, or you’re busy doing the actual contracting work, let the expert team at US Home Supplements assist you.
With our experience helping hundreds of roofing contractors get paid faster, you’ll get the cash flow you need to keep the job running smoothly. For more information, reach out to US Home Supplements today.