4 Shortcuts a Reputable Roofer Will Never Take

It’s not an exaggeration when we say that a roof is an important investment. Therefore, you should only leave roofing installation in capable hands — those that do not take shortcuts. In today’s post, Chase Roofing LLC discusses the shortcuts that you will never see reputable roofers take.

1.  Substituting low-quality materials — Roofs can be built with components from different manufacturers, and it is common practice to substitute similar products if one isn’t available. What’s not acceptable is substituting low-quality materials, which an unscrupulous contractor is likely to do if they want to come up with a low contract price. Low-quality roofing may pass a visual inspection after installation, but performance issues will become apparent after your roof is exposed to outdoor conditions.

2. Installing a new roof over the old one — “Reroofing” or “overlaying” is an installation method where a new roof is installed over an old one. Some roofers offer it as an option to save on labor costs by skipping on tear-off and disposal, but it is only an option for roofs under very specific conditions. An old roof that has problems like moisture damage or weakened framing wouldn’t last long or would require roof repair so often that it would defeat whatever savings you derived in the first place.

3. Using staples for installation — Each roofing type requires appropriate fasteners; staples are not among them. Some roofers use staples as a cost-cutting measure, however the problem is staples are not intended for use on roofs and are not as strong as standard roofing fasteners. Shingles fastened with staples offer little protection against most kinds of weather-related damage.

4. Not using the underlayment — Underlayment or, “felt,” is an important part of every roofing system. It’s a barrier that protects the roof deck from moisture infiltration in case the outer layer of roofing (asphalt shingles, sheet metal or tile, among others) is punctured or damaged. A reputable roofer will never skip this part nor use substitutes.

Chase Roofing LLC is your leading provider of roofing and gutter repair services. Give us a call at (757) 872-0700 or (757) 206-1948. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Newport News, VA, and the surrounding communities.