Roofer - Roofing Mistakes To Avoid

Roofing Tips - Roofing Mistakes To Avoid?

Roofing is listed as one of the many branches of DIY – although it is probably fair to say that relatively few people are competent at it, even at an elementary level.

We live in the age of digital communication, in which more and more people search for professional services online. In the case of DIY services, such as roofing, one can quickly look at the profiles of multiple individual roofers within a short time frame, and obtain their quotes after posting the details of a specific job. A positive result of this is that finding a truly professional roofer has never been easier. However, it is all the more reason to believe that so few individuals who are not professional roofers, have a proper awareness of mistakes made in roofing.

Perhaps an account of the typical causes of problems, would help one to gain an insight. Lack of maintenance, improper design, flashing failures, base-flashing and counter-flashing and drain-flashing problems, and problems with rooftop equipment, signs, braces and supports, are all possible human errors, but weathering and wind damage are also natural factors that should not be overlooked.

A common fault attributed to roofs is when they leak – and this is mostly born of debris, which not only holds water but weakens the condition of a roof over time. It is fair to say that not finding and correcting minor roof deterioration at the earliest stages, is probably the greatest cause of problems with roofs (it is especially true of roofing materials applied on relatively low-sloped roofs).

Where a roof is of a faulty design initially, it can lead to roofing problems which are troublesome, and which take a lot of time and / or money to put right. Having said that, design deficiencies can usually be corrected only when a roof is replaced altogether. These are some ideas of faulty design: weak roof structures which are prone to deflecting to excess when under load; an inadequate roof slope, and ponding water resulting from poorly located drains; not enough space for expansion and contraction and incompatible roof materials.

With the purpose of flashings being to provide a watertight junction between roofing materials and roof projections or other parts of the structure, and between roof sections, it is easy to understand why they are the most vulnerable part of any roof. Keep them properly maintained!

It is recommended that a roof generally be checked once quarterly.

One of the major mistakes made in roofing is failure to take into consideration the very high levels of health and safety danger that is involved in undertaking roofing jobs yourself. It is always recommended that unless you are very competent and do not have a fear of height of course, that you consult a professional trained roofer. Good roofers use safety equipment such as harnesses and at the very least a cat ladder to ensure that they can carry out the works in accordance with working at heights legislation which is now enforced. Ideally, roofing work should only be undertaken with safe access equipment in place such as an access tower or a scaffold.

If you are going to take on the services of a roofing contractor ensure that they have adequate public liability insurance in place and if they employ roofers as either direct employed roofers or sub contractor roofers then ensure also that they have adequate employers liability insurance cover in place.

If you are going to take on the services of a roofer who will be required to use ‘torch on’ materials (this involves heating up roofing materials to form a bond with the other roofing materials involved), then it is vital to remember to check that they have the appropriate specialist roofing insurance in place which covers them for the use of heat in their roofing works. Bear in mind that standard public liability insurance cover is not adequate for working with heat on roofs. You would be surprised just how many roofing companies and self employed roofers are running around carrying out very dangerous roofing works on the homes and properties of unsuspecting homeowners and landlords.

Good luck with your roofing job. Please do take all of the above into consideration and most of all – keep safe with this one. Roofing can be very dangerous if carried out by the amateur roofer. It is always wiser to be safe and spend a few pounds more than to be injured when attempting to carry out roofing works or other DIY trades when you do not have the adequate skills or experience.