What could go wrong?

If you’re pretty handy around your house, you might feel like you can fix any minor problem yourself without having to call a contractor.

Take roof repair, for example. You might think to yourself: There’s not much to fixing a roof. I’ll get a hammer, some nails, and some shingles, and I’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m replacing the entire roof. I’ll just do this job myself and save a little money. What could go wrong?

If your project involves a new shingle or two or maybe a small piece of flashing, you’re probably OK handling it yourself. But if your roof has widespread areas (or one large area) where shingles are compromised, you’re better off calling in a professional. like Moonworks, to take care of the problems. Because if you take on this job on your own, here’s what could go wrong:

• You could place the starter shingles incorrectly. Didn’t know there was such a thing? These specially-designed shingles are placed along the eaves to keep moisture from leaking into the roof’s sheathing.

• You could use roofing materials that are not comparable with your roof’s slope. What is the slope of your roof? If its rise-to-run ratio is less than 1 to 3, then don’t use asphalt, tile, or wood shingles.

• You could nail the shingles incorrectly. Putting nails above or into the self-sealing strip can allow the shingles to slip and become leaky. The same goes for those which don’t have enough nails (at least four per shingle, or half a dozen if you have a steep roof pitch).

• You could fail to position overhanging shingles properly. Shingles on the roof’s edge should hang over the roofline between 1 and 1.5 inches (or less if you use drip edge flashing). More than that leaves them susceptible to wind damage; less clearance opens the door for moisture to damage the fascia boards.

• You could leave the shingles too exposed. Regular three-tab shingles need five inches of exposure. Too much or too little leaves them open to the same kinds of problems that badly-positioned overhanging shingles suffer from.

• You could align the shingles poorly. That means placing the butted joints on different horizontal planes, or not vertically aligning the cutouts on three-tab shingles. These are the signs of shoddy roof workmanship.

• You could lay down the valley flashing incorrectly. Many a roof has been damaged by moisture due to valley flashing that is improperly secured or sealed, laid atop shingles instead of underneath them, or positioned with the metal U-shape facing away from the valley.

• You could inadvertently lay the groundwork for future ice dams. This happens when you forget to install a few feet of underlayer near the edge of the roof. Doing so helps prevent moisture formation by better insulating your roof, and also protects your roof from water leaks should moisture get under your shingles.

• You could forget to vent your roof. The moisture inside your attic has to go somewhere. If your roof isn’t vented, it will build up under your shingles and cause them to deteriorate more rapidly.

• You could get injured. Thousands of people go to the emergency room each year because they fell off their roofs or a ladder. If this happens to you, then you’ve wasted any money saved because of medical bills.

Moonworks is a company you can trust to handle your roof repair job correctly and efficiently. Not only does Moonworks use superior-quality shingles, but also provides a leak barrier, roof deck protection, and proper roof ventilation so that your roof remains problem-free throughout its lifespan. So if your roof needs significant repair, call the professionals at Moonworks at 1-800-975-6666 for a free, on-site estimate, or click here to fill out our form to arrange an appointment online.