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Failing to install flashings

Flashings are thin metal strips you’ll find on certain parts and corners of your shingle roof. Their placement is far from a coincidence. Their function is to protect the parts of your shingle roof where water can easily intrude the roof. Without flashings, your roof suffers a higher risk of extensive water infiltration and moisture damage. This can cause your new roof to fail.

No flashing

Missing flashing causing shingle roof to fail

No flashing

Missing flashing causing shingle roof to fail

Correct flashing

Correct installment with flashing

Choosing the cheapest materials

When choosing your new roof, trying to save a little amount of money can cost you a lot later on! Especially when you cut down your budget for the material and select the cheapest price. It is essential to understand that selecting the low-cost version of items like the underlayment or sealant may save you some money in real time, but in the end it will surely cost you a bigger amount for the entire roof repair might be facing. IKO offers different types of high quality accessories suitable for a wide range of roof types.

Wrong nails

Wrong nails used in shingle roof

Incorrect underlay

Wrong underlay and staples used under shingle roof

Use IKO accessories

Mastics

Insufficient ventilation

Your new roof might fail immediately if it doesn’t have proper ventilation. By having balanced intake and exhaust openings on your attic space you keep your roof healthy and you make sure it is never too cold or too warm. Furthermore, installing some healthy attic ventilation will prevent your roof from forming annoying ice dams after heavy snowfall. But also during the summer season installing proper ventilation keeps your roof in good condition. It helps avoiding a build up of the heat and moisture in your attic space. So make sure your roofer addresses ventilation in your home and inspects the attic space!

No ventilation on shingle roof
Ice on shingle roof
Snow on shingle roof

So even if you have the most flawless, strongest roof shingle the roofing job still needs to be handled with care. If the job is not done correctly, your roof can fail. A properly installed roof takes time and money. It’s a big investment in your home and family, but it is an investment that has to be made. Therefore choosing a trained roofer or contractor is a very important thing.

Tip: Understanding the reasons why a new roof can fail will help you hire a skilled and reliable roofer who will leave you confident in the durability of your new roof!

A question we get a lot is if it is possible to install skylights or roof windows in a shingles roof? The answer is simple: Yes! In this blog we’ll show you the steps how to install a skylight, but let’s talk skylights first!

Roof windows and skylights are very simple concepts with a lot of advantages. They are primarily bringing natural light to the attic and living space. This is perhaps the most important advantage, as sunlight is beneficial to our health, tone and mood. Adding a skylight will allow people to live more comfortably in relation to their biological clock.

Skylight in shingle roof