Replacing the roof on your home is a huge investment. In fact, roof repair and replacement are some of the most expensive aspects of home maintenance. This is because your roof is your house’s first line of defense against the elements. Since it’s one of the most important parts of your home, it’s important that your roofing job is done right. Whether you’re trying to decide on a roofing contractor or you’re evaluating a finished job, this blog post will help you understand how to tell if your roofer did a good job.
The signs of a good roofing job
- The roof looks even and uniform
- The contractor removed old layers
- The contractor used a quality underlayment
- The contractor used proper flashing techniques
- The shingles are installed properly
- The contractor communicated well throughout the project
- The contractors left the job area as they found it
We’ll go into each of these signs a bit more in-depth to help you understand what a quality roofing job should be like.
The roof looks even and uniform
Once a roofing job is complete, homeowners should do a visual inspection of the roof themselves. As you’re looking at the roof, you want to see a uniform appearance across the roof.
There shouldn’t be any areas that are discolored or that stand out from other parts of the roof. There certainly shouldn’t be any parts of the roof that are drooping or sagging.
You want a new roof to be uniform and consistent from the get-go to ensure that different areas of the roof wear consistently over time and no problem areas pop up. On top of that, your roof is a huge part of your house and affects its curb appeal. A clean, consistent roofing job. greatly improves the appearance of your home.
The contractor removed old layers
Another sign that your roofer did a quality job is if they removed all of the old layers of shingles before installing the new roof. You can see how many layers are on your new roof just by visually inspecting it. If there are more layers on your roof than the amount that the contractor quoted for the job, you’ll be able to tell that they didn’t remove the old layers.
Removing the old layers of shingles will help your roof have the desired clean and uniform look that we’ve already talked about. On top of that, it will help protect the roof from the unnecessary strain that the weight of extra layers would put on it.
The contractor uses a quality underlayment
The underlayment of your roof is one of the most important parts of the roofing project. The underlayment is a water-resistant or waterproof material that’s installed between the roof deck and the shingles. It’s there to protect your home in case any water should happen to get past the shingles.
If your roofing contractor didn’t remove old layers of shingle and just slapped new ones on top, the type of underlayment they used wouldn’t even matter because they aren’t worried about the underlayment.
There are different types of underlayment available on the market, but not all of them are created equal. Nowadays, the best underlayments are made of high-strength synthetics. This type of underlayment doesn’t break down as quickly as felt underlayments that used to be more common.
The contractor used proper flashing techniques
Water leaks are one of the most common problems that homeowners face with their roofs. Proper flashing on a roof helps prevent leaks and prolong the roof’s life. A good roofing job will include proper flashing installation in all the areas that are prone to leaks.
A good roofing contractor will make sure that new flashing is installed around pipes and chimneys as these areas are prone to leaks. Some contractors may substitute metal flashing for roof cement or caulk. But this isn’t a long-term solution and won’t hold up to the weather that we have in Kentucky.
The contractor installed drip-edge flashing
A specific type of flashing that will be installed during any good roofing job is drip edge flashing.
Drip edge flashing is a metal strip that’s installed along the edges of the roof. It has a small lip that extends beyond the edge of your roof. Its purpose is to direct water away from the edges of the roof and into the gutters. This helps to prevent water damage to your home’s exterior and prevents leaks in your attic or ceiling.
If your contractor didn’t install drip edge flashing or they installed it improperly, water could seep in behind the shingles and cause all sorts of problems like leaks, mold, and rot. Not only does this damage your home, but it also voids most roofing warranties. Make sure that your contractor installed drip edge flashing and that it’s in good condition.
The shingles are installed properly
The shingles on your roof should be aligned and have sufficient overlap between each column. They should also be centered over the sheathing or plywood below them. Proper shingle installation plays a huge part in the final appearance of the roof.
The proper nailing technique is a vital part of shingle installation. Proper nailing technique for roof shingles includes the right type, size, grade, and quality of nails. The nails should go deep enough into the shingle to hide them, but not so deep that they damage the shingle and cause pieces to break off. On top of that, four to six nails should be used per shingle depending on how windy the area is. The nails should be evenly spaced
If the shingles aren’t properly installed, they can come loose and blow off in high winds. This leaves your home vulnerable to water damage.
Your contractor communicated well throughout the project
Another way to tell if a roofer did a good job comes down to how you felt during the project. The roofing contractor should have kept an open, consistent line of communication with you throughout the roofing project. You shouldn’t have felt like you were left in the dark or like you didn’t know what was going on with your home.
A good roofing contractor will keep you updated on their progress, answer any questions you have, and make sure that you’re happy with the final product.
The contractors left the job area as they found it
A sign of a good roofing job is that the area around your home is just as clean (if not cleaner) when the roofers leave as it was when they arrived. This means that they took the time to tidy up after themselves and remove any debris from your property.
You shouldn’t have to worry about nails, shingles, or anything else in your yard after the roofers leave. If the roofers left a mess behind, that’s a sign that they didn’t take pride in their work.
The importance of roofing credentials
If you haven’t selected a roofing contractor for your project yet, there are some important credentials to check for. You want to make sure that the roofer you choose for the job is licensed and insured. This gives you peace of mind knowing that you have professionals working on your home and that you won’t be liable for any accidents that happen on your property.
Kirby Contracting | Quality roofing projects in Kentucky
At Kirby Contracting, we have years of experience in both roofing and general contracting. We are licensed and insured so you never have to worry. We make it our goal to provide the best customer experience possible from start to finish.
If you’re looking for an experienced roofer in London, KY, or the surrounding area, give us a call today! We would love to give you a free estimate and see how we can meet your needs.
