Why roofs fail

Avoid walking on the surface of your roof and storing anything heavy on it. Keep your roof clean, traffic-free and clear of any heavy objects. The weight can compromise your roof and cause serious damage. When it comes to roofing concerns, trust the experts from Goodrich Roofing. Our roofers are skilled, licensed and experienced. If you have ever invested in a new roof and experienced the utter frustration that happens when your new investment fails, we understand your frustration. Customers who have had their roofs installed elsewhere often come to us dumbfounded as to why their new roof is already failing, especially when a roof is expected to last at least years or longer.

It is no secret that a roof is a hefty investment, although there are countless benefits to installing a new roof, such as it offers a Nonetheless, new roofs are a big investment, so it is important it is done correctly. There are many reasons why a new roof will fail, some being more obvious than others. In this article, we will be revealing the top 4 reasons new roofs fail, and how to avoid falling victim to a bungled roof. The fact of the matter is, the best shingle in the world is only as good as the professional who installs it.

When it comes to a failing roof, poor workmanship is often the number one offender. To learn more about the quality roofing services that our skilled team offers, visit us on the web at Guardian Roofs. Poor ventilation system One of the main reasons why roofs fail is that there is poor ventilation. Subpar installation by the last roofing company Another reason why roofs commonly fail is that you picked the wrong roofing company. Poorly chosen flashing to protect from leaks Another reason why roofs fail prematurely is that the flashing used is of poor quality or is not installed properly.

If you are having roof issues, contact the experts at Guardian Roofs today for assistance! Wrinkles within the membrane will eventually fatigue and crack. Because they are raised above the surface of the roof, they are more prone to traffic damage, scuffing and surfacing loss than the rest of the roof. Flashings must be fastened at the top to prevent the membrane from slipping down the wall or curb, or to keep the membrane from creating a funnel into the building. A flashing normally terminates under a metal counterflashing.

If it does, the counterflashing can create problems if the top is not properly sealed or the sealant has failed. If the metal counterflashing does not lap the membrane enough, it may fail to divert water from the flashing and instead funnel water into it. Surfacings on membranes may provide protection from ultraviolet radiation and damage from traffic on the roof. They also may be a component of the fire rating of the roof. In the case of ballasted roofs, surfacings may be the only thing keeping the roof in place other than gravity.

When the surfacing gets displaced or worn off, either from foot traffic, repair persons, wind, etc. In mechanically attached roofing systems, movement from wind will cause fasteners to rock back and forth with the gusts.

Eventually, this movement causes the hole in the deck around the fastener to enlarge and the fastener to back out. The fastener heads can eventually puncture the membrane from below.

But fastener back-out is not limited to single-ply membranes. It is also a common occurrence in metal roofing and in metal accessories on membrane roofs. In these cases, the backed-out fasteners leave holes where water can directly enter the building. This is an especially serious problem when a coping — the metal cap on the top of a parapet — is fastened through the top of the horizontal portion and not through the vertical flanges.

Abuse and Neglect. When it comes to mistreating a roof, the most common culprits are air conditioning and maintenance technicians, window washers, and sign installers. It is not unusual to see debris — ranging from screws and bits of sheet metal all the way up to empty refrigerant canisters and abandoned HVAC units — left on roofs after an air conditioning repair visit. Small debris can cut into the roof if the debris is stepped on; large debris will work its way into the roof membrane during the hot months of the year.

Sign installers routinely install conduit through the walls without properly sealing the penetrations. The water that gets into those penetrations works its way through the walls and into the building, disguised as a roof leak.

Window washers and painters hang access equipment over the side of the roof, kick flashings and damage parapets, allowing leaks to occur. All of these groups of people can wreak havoc on base flashings, which get kicked, punctured with tools and machinery, and have mechanical equipment run up against them.

Owners contribute to the early demise of their own roofs by not properly maintaining them and failing to repair small problems, before they become big ones. Preventing problems begins with the design of the roof and choice of materials. The roof membrane chosen should reflect the characteristics of the building.