Common Roof Problems: Know What To Look For!

We just got called out to a friend’s house (this rain has been brutal) because he noticed a stain in his kitchen ceiling. His roof (not our work, he bought a new construction home 15 years ago), appeared to be in good shape still. No visible missing shingles, no limbs, holes, flashing issues, etc.

So, what could be the problem? Well, truth be told, there are MANY problems you can encounter with a roof, especially one installed with poor quality and cheaper supplies. So BEFORE we tell you what his common problem was, let’s go over ALL of the common issues you may encounter over the lifespan of your roof (don’t worry, we’ll tell you about our friend’s roof at the end). 

Common Roofing Problems:

1. Cracked and blistering shingles

Cracked shingles are a result of extreme temperatures drying out the asphalt in your shingles. This is usually a normal aging process of most roofs and shouldn’t be a major issue unless it leads to tears or splits in shingles.

This photo above shows extreme blistering on an old roof. 

Blistering is caused by the expansion of gasses escaping from the asphalt layer. The gas migrates to the shingle surface where eventual blistering can occur. Once blistering starts to happen, there is no way to stop it and the roof will eventually have to be replaced.

Advances in technology have prevented a lot of cracking/blistering from happening, so make sure to double check what your roofer or contractor is installing on your home, and always double check your quote for quality materials.

*Clyde Nettles routinely uses high quality Atlas shingles, which come with great warranties. We clearly define this in all of our quotes unless another brand is specified from the client.

2. Slipping/displaced shingles

Severe weather (high winds) can lift flashing and shingles. When this occurs, the flashing/shingles need to nailed/secured back down to the roof and resealed to prevent moisture from invading. If shingles are not properly installed with the correct amount of overlay, or they aren’t nailed correctly, they can shift and slide (only after a few years of a new install).

*See our pic below of a house in need of a new roof within just a few years of being built. The contractor’s roofers did not provide the proper overlay, which caused shingles to start sliding and the entire roof needed to be replaced. Warren is pointing out how close the nail is to the edge of the shingle, which should never happen with proper overlaying.

3. Improper flashing

“Flashing” is the work on your roof that surrounds/protects areas like chimneys or pipes that protrude from your roof.

Improper flashing is one of the primary reason we see leaks. Many inexperienced roofers or those looking to take quicker ‘short-cuts’ don’t install or seal the flashing properly, which can lead to severe wall rot from built up moisture.

*In the photo above, we had a very challenging pitch on a roof that required special flashing. In order to ensure that this flashing would work properly, prevent moisture buildup and lead to a long lasting solution, Warren Keisler measured out and hand-cut a custom piece of copper. This extra attention to detail is one of the reasons we have earned the reputation as South Carolina’s most trusted roofing company for 70 years J.

4. Storm damage

This one is a no-brainer. Extreme storms can bring hail, tree limbs and more on top of your roof. Luckily most of these issues are covered by home owners insurance policies, and we have extensive relationships with all major insurance companies. In addition to making sure you roof is taken care of, we also have a restoration division led by John Wilson and make sure whatever damage is done to your home can be quickly repaired to get you and your family back on track and safe. When receiving quotes on your roof, always double check to make sure they are including wood/repairs under the shingles (if necessary). Many roofing companies will only quote you on the actual shingle replacements to keep the quote low, and then bill you extra upon completion for the wood work/additional repairs.

5. Clogged Gutters

Clogged gutters or a bad gutter system could direct the flow of water into problematic areas and cause excessive moisture buildup on your roof. Moisture that sits on your roof for extended periods of time will always shorten the lifetime of your shingles and lead to future damage.

6. Raised Nails

Nails can “back out” of seemingly solid wood. The nails need to get good placement into the wood when they are first driven; it’s important to make sure the tip of the nail completely passes through the shingle, underlayment and into the wood at least 3/8 of an inch. The constant expansion/contraction of the wood during summer/winter will make the nail loosen and start to raise up. When this happens, there is a small hole below the head of the nail that can allow moisture to eventually seep in. If there are several spots in one area where this is happening, the moisture eventually leads to a slow drip, and next thing you know you have a leak in your roof.

Raised nail on a roof, which can lead to a slow steady leak in periods of rain.

Conclusion:

And this, friends, is what was wrong with our friend’s house. It was purchased new 15 years ago, and even though the shingles were still in good shape, several nails had backed up and created small holes to allow rain water to seep in.

Luckily for our friend, we were able to correct this common problem for him by resealing the nail holes and securing the nails without having to replace the roof (the shingles were still in good shape).

At Clyde Nettles, we’ll never try to sell you a roof you don’t need. We are in our 70^th year of business and look at every client as a long-term investment in the future of our business. Eventually, everyone needs a new roof. And we will still be here offering you the same quality of work, professionalism and customer service that has kept us in business since 1950.

Thanks for reading, and we hope you all have a wonderful week!

ClydeNettles.com

803-754-7663