Before You Have That New Roof Installed, Consider These Reasons For Early Failure

6 Reasons For Roof Failure: Why Doing It To Code Isn’t Enough

A roof replacement is a huge investment that you don’t want to waste. Making sure it’s installed up to code is a major part of the project. But did you know there’s more to it than that? There are six major reasons why roofs in Seattle fail. The good news is that you can prepare and prevent these failures from happening.

What Does a "Quality" vs. "Code-Minimum" Roof Actually Cost?

We know the first question on every homeowner's mind is: "How much is this going to cost me?" While a "code-minimum" roof might save you $2,000–$4,000 upfront, the hidden costs of early failure (averaging 17 years in Seattle) mean you’ll pay for a second roof much sooner.

A "RoofSmart" installation focuses on the 30-to-50-year lifecycle. To see how these quality choices impact your specific investment, check out our Instant Roof Estimate tool.

Is a Premium Roof Right for You?

We’ll be the first to tell you: RoofSmart isn’t the right fit for everyone. > * We are NOT the right choice if you are flipping a house and looking for the cheapest possible "code-minimum" install to pass inspection.

• We are NOT the right choice if you prioritize the lowest bid over long-term material warranties and specialized "EggHead" installation techniques.

However, if you plan on living in your home for the next 10+ years and want to ensure you never have to worry about your attic's health or roof leaks again, we are exactly who you’re looking for.

1. Lack Of Ventilation And Trapped Air

When there’s no real ventilation, heat and moisture can build up in the attic and roof assembly. Your attic should never be too warm or too moist, so you’ll need balanced ventilation during the summer and winter months.

Water retention can cause damage to the structure of the roof. Even with barriers and shingles, you can have excess water retention from the moist air underneath it all. Did you know this water can even cause your roof to rot from underneath and even allow harmful mold to build up?

To avoid these problems, you’ll want to make sure you choose ventilation for your roof that doesn’t just “check a box” but one that does the job you need: ensuring proper air movement throughout the roof system.

2. Use Of Low-Quality Roofing Materials

You might be tempted to save a few dollars by buying cheaper materials for your roof. Before you do this, you’ll want to make sure they’re going to do the job for you.

Cheaper materials might seem cost-effective at the time of your roof replacement but they have the potential to fail quickly after protecting your home for only a short period. Are you a house flipper, planning to dump the property on some unsuspecting new homeowner? That’s one type of customer. Or are you keeping the place for a while? If so, going cheap might save money at the start, but choosing cheap may end up costing you a lot more in the long run when you go through an early roof failure and have to replace the roof again in a very short period of time.

That’s why the average life of a Seattle roof is just 17 years!

3. Flashing Failure

Flashing is what protects the most vulnerable sections of your roof from water infiltration and is made of plastic or metal. It can be found near all the roof penetrations on your roof valleys.

If these important parts of the roof are not installed, gaps will be left unsealed in your roof’s structure, and water will be able to sneak in and damage your roof.

4. Faulty Installation

Not choosing the right contractor for your roof replacement can result in a roof failure, because short-cuts are all too common. If they do not do the installation correctly, you can be left with leaks, moisture damage, and structural rot. Remember, just because the contractor cuts you a deal doesn’t mean it’s the best choice. Cheaper isn’t always smarter.

5. Roof Traffic

If you have a lot of people, like cable contractors, on your roof, this can speed up the failure of your roof. You will want to limit the amount of traffic on your roof to prolong its lifespan. As an alternative, you can get walkways installed during your roof replacement to limit the amount of walking on your roof. This is an advantage to some asphalt shingles that come embedded with copper granules: it cuts down the algae and moss growth. Similarly for metal roofs, very little maintenance is required.

6. Extreme Weather

Harsh weather is simply unavoidable. In Seattle, we experience a lot of wind, rain, and (sometimes) snow. To combat this factor, you’ll want to make sure you’ve installed the top roofing materials to stand up to the weather, and that you’ve chosen the best contractor in town who knows exactly what you need for the rough weather.

Are You Ready To Upgrade Your Roof? Leave It To The Seattle Roof Nerds

By focusing all of our attention on one specialty, we can be the best in our field. For us, that’s roof replacements. You won’t find a better roofing contractor in Greater Seattle!

We are a team of nerds with a passion for roofing. It matters how your contractor feels about their work, and we love it. Our goal is to help people achieve the best possible results and experience.

If you’re ready to take the plunge and upgrade your roof to make an investment that is long-lasting and durable, call RoofSmart at (206) 487-4877 or contact us for your free estimate.

We service Seattle and the surrounding areas.

Next Steps: Become a Smarter Homeowner

Don't make a $20,000 mistake by guessing. Use these resources to take control of your project:

1. Compare Materials: Strongest Material for a Tree Strike?
2. Vet Your Contractor: Download our checklist on How To Choose A Roofing Contractor
.
3. Get a Number: Use our Instant Roof Estimate tool
to get pricing in under 60 seconds.