Poorly installed shingles can fall victim to gravity or gusts of wind and tear free, ultimately weakening the roof system’s potential to perform. But, even more, replacing those shingles must be done properly to prevent future blow off or leaking.

Poor ventilation causes subpar weather resistance and temperature control. This can cause ice damns to back up under shingles, mold and/or condensation to grow in attics, or will simply add dollars to your utility bill. Left unchecked these factors can lead serious damage in the home.

Rain gutters and drains are meant to control the flow of rain water and direct it to safe locations. Blockages in that system can lead to excesses of water going to undesirable places ultimately leading to roof damage or even the infiltration of rain water.

Nature can be harsh. The elements and even squirrels, those persistant little animals, can cause damage to the protective barriers of your home. Even temperature fluctuations can cause a constant rise and fall in the roof materials, causing punctures in the roof system.

Usually mounted to the roof causing unavoidable holes in the roof system, may make living more comfortable, safe, and enjoyable, but they need extra care and attention. Water sealants are used to prevent the infiltration of water, but poor application, and/or substandard or incorrect materials can lead to eventual failure and roof leaks.

Chimneys have two potential weaknesses. 1.) Where they pass through the roof system. They must be flashed with front flashing, step flashing, and back flashing (a cricket), and then that flashing must be counter flashed. 2.) Chimneys usually consist of masonry materials which has mortar joints that wear thin over time. Maintenance of these individual parts is essential in preventing leaks for the life of your roof.

There’s only two kinds of skylights: the ones that leak, and the ones that don’t. Extreme differences in temperature through so thin a barrier needs extra counter measures to ensure sufficient installation. Many contractors fail to meet the necessary requirements in this area, leading to skylights becoming one of the most common areas for unwanted, water infiltration into the home.

Cutting a hole into the middle of perfectly good roof is sure to lead to potential trouble spots. Pipe boots and roof vents are designed to divert water around these holes, but it is heart breakingly common for them to be installed incorrectly. Then poor repair companies cake the roof with cement or caulking to overcompensate. Unfortunately roof cement and caulking are not intended for that repair and fail often.

Valleys naturally occur where two planes of a roof surface intersect. They are gathering points for virtually all rain, snow and ice that falls over the area of a roof. This abundance of water combined with the lower roof angle that occurs in all valleys, guarantees that even the simplest of mistakes, or even the smallest downgrade in the quality of materials, can cause water to gush into a home during a storm.

Dormers really jazz up the look of a home, as well as add some space and light to the inside, but they are completely surrounded by potential leak points. They suffer all the challenges of a chimney with additional valleys and flashings for potential leaks. Dormers are one the most common locations for leaks to occur in Pennsylvania.

Anywhere a vertical surface protrudes up from a roof, you need to use step flashing. It is common for inexperienced roofers to cheat in these areas or even install them incorrectly, which is sure to lead to inevitable leaks. No substitute is sufficient. Without step flashing water only needs to back up under the shingles slightly in order to find its way against the wall, and under the shingles. You’ll find step flashing around chimneys, dormers, and gable walls anytime they are sealed properly.