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The missing of drip edge flashings can cause several problems at the bottom of a roof, because these flashings serve a number of purposes:

• Drip edge flashings keep insects out of the attic.
• They prevent wind-driven rain from entering under the edge of the roof.
• They provide a “drip point” for water to drip off from the roof which helps prevent soffit or fascia rot.
• They keep shingles from “sagging” as they extend past the edge of the roof.

Solution:

If necessary, pop up roofing nails from the shingles and slide in a metal flashing. Glue the flashing and shingles with bituminous mastic.

The application of an underlayment provides benefits to the roof system at the deck and shingle components. These benefits add to the long-term weatherproofing success of the roof system. The most building codes require the application of an underlayment for pitched roofs. Shingle roofs without an underlayment or without proper overlapping mean high risks for wind driven water close by roof details (valley, chimney, skylight, spot vents, pipe flange etc.). When installing on a slope between 9.5° and 20°, it is very important to install double coverage with 50 cm overlaps or one layer of a self-adhesive underlayment!

Solution:

No action is needed if you do not have leakage problems. If you are experiencing water infiltration, try to fix the leak and start to think about a new roof.

A successful roofing project requires more than only the right shingles. The job has to be done properly, following the correct application methods. In our previous blogpost we covered the first 5 common mistakes by roofers. The list of mistakes doesn’t end there, let’s take a look at the following 5 topics:

• Improper shingle nailing
• Use of improper nails
• Not aligning shingles correctly
• Improper flashing installation
• Reusing old flashings

Shingles can slide down or blow off if they aren’t nailed correctly or if less nails have been used. You should use at least four nails per shingle. When installing a roof with steep graded, that minimum should be raised up to six nails. The placement of the nails is as important as the number of nails. They should be completely covered and kept dry by the next row of shingles. All nails should be driven straight into the wooden deck. Crooked, over-driven or under-driven nails can cause roof leaks!

Solution:

Unstick the shingles carefully and try to fix all under-driven and high nails. Secure these spots with an extra bituminous mastic. But be aware: an excessive amount of mastic can cause blistering! Cover exposed nails with a piece of shingle or apply a small dot of Shingle Stick and some granules over it.