Roofing Process & Common Roof Problems
Kirkey Roofing Inc
Helping Clients to Understand the Roofing Process
Getting a new roof involves many different phases of work and requires coordination of schedules with suppliers, building departments, crew availability, and weather. At Kirkey Roofing Inc, we handle all of this and communicate the process along the way.
Contact us today!
Working With Clients From Start to Finish With Our Five-Step Process
Phase 1 - Pre-Start Planning
- Pre-startup walk-through with our roofing specialist at agreement signing
- Provide a tentative timeline for the roofing project to begin
- Schedule of start date
- Apply for all permits required by county
- Record notice of commencement
Phase 2 - Site Preparation and Protection
- Arrival to jobsite
- Prep house – cover driveway, protect windows, garage doors, and air conditioning units from falling debris
- Cover pool to protect from dirt, dust and debris
- Protect landscaping
Phase 3 - Roof Removal, Repair, Energy/Structural Upgrades
- Remove all old roofing materials
- Remove and replace any and all rotted roof sheathing and fascia board
- Inspect or upgrade hurricane straps for certification for homeowner’s insurance discounts. (optional per agreement)
- Installation of attic insulation to current Florida building codes, energy savings, tax credits, and utility rebates are available (optional per agreement)
- Re-nail roof deck for additional homeowner’s insurance discounts.
- Emergency tarps and poly sheeting
Phase 4 - Roof Installation
- Install roof underlayment for waterproofing (emergency visqueen always on site for sudden rain). Depending on the underlayment installed, additional insurance discounts available
- Inspect and replace flashing as needed. Install new flashing with counter flashing, or complete stucco repairs as specified
- Required county inspections
- Install roof covering (tile, shingle, flat, metal)
- Daily clean-up of jobsite, including removing debris and sweeping magnet for stray nails
Phase 5 - Final Clean-Up and Inspection
- Clean and re-nail loose gutters
- Final quality inspection and walk-through with homeowner
Detecting Minor Problems Before They Become Major Problems
Not all roof problems can be seen from the ground or identified by the homeowner. You should have a professional roof inspection done periodically to detect minor problems before they become major problems causing structure damage to home. The problems vary depending on the roof type:
- Shingle
- Tile
- Flat
- Metal
Some of these issues can be resolved with a roof repair to extend the life of the roof. Other problems will require a roof replacement. Call Kirkey Roofing Inc for your roof inspection today.
Thorough Roof Inspections
The best time to call a professional roofer is before a major repair or replacement is needed. Often, many costly and disruptive issues can be easily avoided with proper maintenance and roof inspections. That’s why Kirkey Roofing Inc recommends an annual rooftop and attic inspection.
It is your way of being assured that your roofing system is in top condition, year in and year out. An annual rooftop and attic inspection will also help prevent costly problems down the road and ultimately extend the life of your roofing system. The true strength of your roof can’t be seen from the street. We’ll look at things from the inside to ensure your safety, and we’ll inspect the 20 most critical components of your roof.
Common Shingle Roof Problems
- Buckled and curling shingles
- Granule loss
- Lack of ventilation
- Missing shingles
- Damaged flashing
Shingle Roof Problems – Buckled and Curling Shingles
This roof on the left suffers from buckled/curling shingles, one of the most common shingle roof problems. It happens when shingles get so hot that they literally begin buckling away from your home. Buckled shingles can no longer fully protect your home from water and other weather. In other words, your roof could suffer from leaks that you’ve yet to notice in your home!
Granule Loss
This roof suffers from granule loss; it often occurs to shingles when they’re older and have begun to wear away due to extreme exposure to weather. When you have granule loss, you can no longer expect your roof to fully protect your home.
Lack of Ventilation
This roof suffers from a lack of ventilation; vents allow the roof to breathe. They bring air in and out of your attic consistently. If your attic isn’t properly ventilated, it can severely reduce the life expectancy of your roofing materials.
Missing Shingles
This roof suffers from missing shingles; there are portions throughout the roof where they’re simply not there. Missing shingles often lead to water damaged homes.
Damaged Flashing
This roof suffers from
damaged flashing; the flashing is not properly sealed against the roof. When flashing isn’t sealed tightly, water seeps into your roof.
Common Tile Roof Problems
- Cracked and sliding tiles
- Corrosion
- Deteriorated underlayment
- Soffit and roof edge damage
- Valley failure
Cracked and Sliding Tiles
Cracked and sliding tiles expose your roof’s underlayment to harmful sun and UV rays which deteriorate your roof’s protective layer. Left unattended, deterioration of your roof’s underlayment begins in as little as 90 days, depending on the material. Deteriorated underlayment allows water to seep through your roofs protective layer and causes damage to your home.
Corrosion
Florida’s high humidity and frequent rain causes corrosion and rust on your roof vents and flashings. Once these become damaged, water is able to find its way between the flashing and roof deck and into your home.
Deteriorated Underlayment
Deteriorated underlayment is caused when a tile breaks, cracks, or slides, exposing the watertight layer of your roof to the elements. Left unattended the underlayment will crack and allow water to cause damage to your roof deck and home.
Soffit and Roof Edge Damage
Soffit and roof edge damage is caused by water damning behind the mortar or eave closure at the first row of tile at your roof’s edge. Often this occurs because water does not properly drain at the edge of the roof due to poor installation. Trapped water rots the underlayment, roof deck, and supportive structure of the roof. Signs of rust on your soffit may be a sign that your roof is damaged around the perimeter. Left unattended, damage spreads quickly and may require substantial repairs or cause early roof failure. Regular inspections of soffit areas by a trained professional are necessary because water damage does not show up inside your home.
Valley Failure
Valley failure is caused by exposure to the elements. The age of your roof and the type of materials used in the valleys contribute to failure. Valley failures can cause serious damage to your home due to the large amount of water that travels through the valley.
Common Flat Roof Problems
- Ponding water
- Cracked membrane/alligatoring
- Edge damage
- Roof tie-in
Flat roof problems are different from shingle and tile roofs and cannot be seen from the ground. Many problems go undetected until it is too late and a leak has formed. Periodic professional roof inspections are even more important to prevent issues and extend the life of the roof.
Ponding Water
Ponding water is the main cause of roof deterioration on flat roofs. Water breaks down the membrane and causes leaks. To solve this problem a tapered insulation system can be installed which will shed the water off your roof and as a bonus reduce your energy bills.
Cracked Membrane/Alligatoring
These low slope/flat roofs have been coated, probably to try and fix existing leaks. Water, debris and the sun breaks down the coating and roofing membrane providing only a temporary solution.
Edge Damage
Edge damage is caused by water not draining properly and ponding at the edge. As the roofing membrane deteriorates, leaks occur and cause damage to your home.
Roof Tie-In
A common problem area for leaks is where two different roof surfaces meet. The flashing (the metal between the roofs) was not installed properly and caused damage to this home.
