 Limited
Visual Inspection:
Roof
Covering; Is your home really
covered? |
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We Inspect 'You' Decide! |
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Shingle
installation |
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What does the International
Residential Code say about Roof
Installation? |
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§RR905
REQUIREMENTS FOR ROOF COVERINGS
§RR905.1 Roof covering
application. Roof coverings
shall be applied in accordance
with the applicable provisions
of this section and the
manufacturer's installation
instructions. |
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The key words here is
manufacturer's installation
instructions. This is where
the problem starts. All
manufacture's print the
installation instructions on the
roof shingle bundle wrapper. In
most cases it is printed in
English and Spanish.
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How many fasteners are required
in a shingle? In areas less than
110 miles per hour. Normally 4
nails are required. In areas of
110 miles per hour or greater
the shingles have to comply with
ASTM D 3161 and 6 nails are
required. Click on the wind
speed map to the left to see the
wind zones in Texas.
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What's in a roof shingle
warranty?
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When we inspect roofs on new
construction or re-sale homes, the problem that
is most consistent is the improper
installation of the roof
(shingles). It is hard
to believe that the very people
that built your new home or
re-roofed your home may
also have
voided the roof
shingle warranty on
your home by improper
installation!
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How can this happen? Because
today, we are building houses
with day labors, illegal aliens,
and un-licensed contractors.
In Texas, builders and
contractors only have to be
registered with the state, they
are not licensed!
With the exception of Plumbers,
Electricians and A/C Heating
contractors. these people are
licensed by the State.
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But there is no one out there
making sure builders and
contractor get licensed. And we are
not sure what registration
really means! Below is a
web-site of
builders and contractors who
were denied registration; or
withdrew their applications. |
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DENIED / WITHDRAWN BUILDER
REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS |
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Below are photos of roofs on new
construction. The fact that
these roofs were
previously passed by city
inspectors; builder's private
inspectors; and/or builder's windstorm
engineers.
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These roofs are not installed in
accordance to the manufacturer's
installation instructions. What
do most manufacturers say about
installation and warranties?
(See below) |
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This warranty does not provide
protection against any failure,
defect or damage caused by
situations and events beyond
normal exposure conditions,
including but not limited to:
Improper application or
application not in accordance
with manufacturer's current
written installation
instructions.
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Below are photos of improperly
installed shingles. |
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(click any pic to in-large) |
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These roof are all on new
homes.
None of these roofs comply
with the
manufacture's warranties.
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One
of the many reasons that roofs
appear to fail prematurely in
our area is partially due
to our severe heat and high
humidity. Most homeowners
are lulled into thinking that if
a 30-year roof shingle is
installed on their home (as
stated by the roof manufacturer),
then that roof will last the
suggested life expectancy.
Not
so! Most roofs fail in
10 to 15 years. Very few roofs
last past 15 years!
Lots of factors
contribute to the roof failing
prematurely. Along with
our severe heat and high
humidity; we also have to
contend with improper
ventilation of the
attic space. Not having enough
and/or improper ventilation of
an attic can also be a
contributing factor to
premature roof failure. (See
"Ventilation")
But not even proper ventilation
will ensure that a roof in the
Gulf Coast Area will last it's
predicted (life) warranty.
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Due to a popular radio talk show
hosts in the Houston area,
everyone wants ridge vents
installed on their roofs.
Unfortunately, most hip roofs do
not have enough ridge for the
use of ridge vents, which these
radio talk show hosts fail to
tell people. So, roofers and
builders install
air-pots or air-hawks under the ridge vents
[on the roof]. This will
short-circuit your roof
ventilation and your attic will
not ventilate properly; thus
contributing to the lack of
proper ventilation; and roof
(shingle) failure!
Builders and roofers are the
biggest culprits of this
practice. What does the shingle
manufacturer s say about their
warranty and ventilation?
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Inadequately Ventilated and
Non-Ventilated Decks
Any shingles applied to
inadequately ventilated or
non-ventilated decks, other
than the shingles and deck
systems described in the paragraph
below, titled “Insulated Decks
and Radiant Barriers,” shall
qualify for a reduced warranty
duration of 10 years with no
SureStart coverage, with respect
to shingle problems related to
the absence of adequate roof
system ventilation. |
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All Limited Wind Warranties
require the installer to follow
the application instructions
printed on the Shingle wrapper. |
THE USEFUL LIFE OF A GIVEN
SHINGLE MAY BE AFFECTED BY MANY
FACTORS, INCLUDING: THE WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO WHICH IT IS
EXPOSED; THE QUALITY OF ITS
INSTALLATION; THE TYPE AND
QUALITY OF THE CONSTRUCTION,
INCLUDING THE ROOF DECKING AND
VENTILATION; AND OTHER
FACTORS OVER WHICH ELK HAS NO
CONTROL.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY DESCRIBES
YOUR REMEDY IN THE EVENT YOUR
SHINGLES ARE FOUND TO HAVE
DEFECTS IN MATERIAL OR
MANUFACTURING WORKMANSHIP WHICH
AFFECT PERFORMANCE BEFORE THE
EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE
WARRANTY PERIOD. NO LIMITED
WARRANTY ASSURES THAT THE
COVERED PRODUCTS WILL LAST THE
ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE APPLICABLE
WARRANTY PERIOD.
WHAT IS NOT COVERED: ELK shall
not be liable for, and this
Limited Warranty does not apply
to, any damages to the Shingles
or any other property from any
cause other than defects in
materials or manufacturing
workmanship defined in the
Limited Warranty. The causes not
covered by this Limited Warranty
include, without limitation,
damage to the Shingles caused
by: (a) fire, casualty or acts
of God, such as hailstorms,
hurricanes, or tornadoes; (b)
any distortion or movement of
the roof deck, walls, or
foundation of the building or
other premises; (c)
installation of the Shingles not
conforming with the instructions
printed on the Shingle wrapper;
(d) any exposure to or
application of paints or of any
improper cleaning solutions,
coatings, harsh airborne or
liquid chemicals or
modifications of any kind; (e)
traffic (walking on the roof),
misuse, neglect, or improper
handling or use of the Shingles
before, during or after
installation; (f) decking nails
or staples backing out and
either perforating or pushing up
the Shingles; (g) improper
ventilation or drainage; (h)
improper handling or storage of
the Shingles by parties other
than ELK, including from
excessive exposure to impact,
heat or moisture prior to
application; or (i) failure of
any Shingles to seal due to
insufficient heat exposure or
direct sunlight. Further, this
Limited Warranty does not cover
(a) distortion in the color of
Shingles within a batch and/or
between batches which may occur
from the positioning of the
granular surfacing material used
on the Shingles, or (b) claims
by owners or transferees not
qualifying as Original Owners or
Authorized Transferees under
this Limited Warranty. |
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Below are improperly vented
roofs using ridge vents. These
roofs do not have enough ridge
to use ridge vents. |
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What this (all) means to you is that
you probably do not have
a 30, 40, or 50-year warranty on
your new roof! The roof warranty
is probably more like 0 to 10
years. These roof shingle
warranty excerpts were taken
directly from
CertainTeed and
Elk
(roof shingle
manufacturer's websites). |
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 Related
Information: |
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