Roofing question...

robtonya

robtonya

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Joined
Nov 2, 2007
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722
I know there are contractors on this forum, so I was on the roof with the contractor who has been helping me out, I have a skylight leaking, and we was getting measurements for a new one, and as soon as he got on the roof he noticed all of the asphalt shingles are cracked. The roof is only five years old, but it is one of those modular houses. I was wondering if this was storm damage, or just a cheap shingle. He said he wasn't sure what caused it, but it was the worse he had seen. I was wondering if someone could tell me if it was hail damage or something. Thanks
 
robtonya said:
I know there are contractors on this forum, so I was on the roof with the contractor who has been helping me out, I have a skylight leaking, and we was getting measurements for a new one, and as soon as he got on the roof he noticed all of the asphalt shingles are cracked. The roof is only five years old, but it is one of those modular houses. I was wondering if this was storm damage, or just a cheap shingle. He said he wasn't sure what caused it, but it was the worse he had seen. I was wondering if someone could tell me if it was hail damage or something. Thanks
Click to expand...

  Rob you shouldn't have cracked shingles in five years. I don't think it is storm damage. How many are cracked, most or all of them? Is it just the shingles around the skylight? I once made a repair after a homeowner tried to fix a leak himself. Turns out he used shingles he got from his brother's yard that were left overs, they were 20 years old. Leaks around are not uncommon, its a sigh that the roofer didn't know what he was doing. Are you sure the sky light needs to be replaced?
 
I am not a roofer by trade, but subbed out maybe 20 or 30 jobs to a roofing crew I have used.

Brice is correct it is the flashing around the skylight that is most likely the problem. Depending on the severity sometimes it is better to just replace the entire skylight and re flash correctly. If the skylight is not aluminum clad  it can be rotted and the repair may not be worth the couple hundred you may or may not save.

In 5 years even a  20 year shingle should not crack.  But I have seen it happen on stock that sat in the yard outside for 5 years, but technically new. That is one thing that can  contribute to the shingles  cracking in five years. The pallets may have been outside with a cover for many years which  can make the asphalt go brittle once installed. Sitting going through the seasonal changes over and over.

I am not a scientist, but this is what my crews have determined after seeing this. Just their educated guess.

There are so many variables it is just about impossible to know what created your problem even if on site looking at it. The way the house faces, the wind, weather, age of the shingle before purchased, how they were installed, the brand, etc all can be a factor. Hail can definitely ruin a roof, but I would have to see the "cracking". 

If it is the ENTIRE roof it is more likely a bad batch of shingle for one reason or another. Environmental problems tend to be located in specific areas, like sun fading in one area, or leaking around a skylight etc, not across the entire roof.

Are there any good parts of the roof and if there is where are they. This may give you a hint as to what's going on.

nickao
 
I too am not a roofer, have subbed out many over the years.  I agree with the above replies, just have this to add.  I do know that poor ventilation in the roof interior can run havac in any shingle system.  I would also check for proper eave/soffit  and ridge vents.  Ventilation, inferior materials, or poor installation may all have a part in a failing roof.

Just a thought.  Dan
 
Two cents time,

Everybody is correct.

Especially Mr. Rush.

Not more correct, just most likely.

Shingles are guaranteed.

First step is not a contractor but the manufacturer's rep.

I say this because,(the economy thing again),

Today even your best freind will try to sell you a roof.

Per
 
Thanks all, I have a new skylight with integrated flashing, i just bought it. A Velux brand. I'm not exactly sure the old skylight is leaking, but we got 7 in. of rain in a 24 hour period, and the dry wall on the top side was soaking wet. When we went up to measure the deminsions, he noticed the whole roof on the south side was cracked, i'm not sure about the north side. I have read online about it cracking because of the fiberglass in the shingle, I'm not sure. When the skylight started leaking, I tried to contact the mnf. of the house, no luck, and then I contacted the developer I purchased it from, and he said any warranty would be expired, but he would send a guy over to fix the leak. The guy showed up, was on the roof about 2 min., and said he got it and left. I think he just squirted some silicone around it, didn't fix the leak. That is why I just decided to buy a new one, but now it looks like I need a new roof too. I'm unsure about the ventilation too, I will have to study up on that too. Thanks for the quick replies, I wasn't sure what hail damage looked like, but I found some after searching the internet some more, it is definetly not hail damage.
 
" I contacted the developer I purchased it from, and he said any warranty would be expired"
The Manufacturer warranty's the shingles or will determine liability.

You need to determine the brand of shingles.

Lets take for instance Owens Corning,

30 year limited warranty, the pdf is here. http://www.owenscorning.com/around/roofing/pdfs/8.5x11warr.pdf

Its boiler plate and reads pretty much the way they all do.

But the manufacturer will send someone out to ascertain blame.

They all will to cover their butts.

I am by no means crying litigation here but 5 to10 grand is still 5 to 10.

Per
 
  We had a hail storm here in Wisconsin a few years back and everyone go a new roof and even siding in some cases. If there is any chance it's storm or hail related, personally i would let my insurance carrier decide that, Monday morning.
                                                                                                                                              Thanks
                                                                                                                                                  Dan
 
Thanks Dan, and Per. Per how would I determine who the manufacturer is? Dan, I guess I can let the insurance look at it, all they can do is say no.
 
  Rob do you have a way to see the under side of the roof like a attic or crawl space? I'd want tot try to find the leak and see if you can a temporary repair until you are ready to deal. Where you see the water stains/damage inside is not necessarily where the roof is leaking. Water can run down the inside of the sheeting a long way.
 
I don't have either access to the attic, when he gets the old skylight off, I was going to inspect what I can, He is supposed to be here tuesday, other than that, I really don't know. I could get out the drywall knife, and make an access.
 
Rob,  How about asking the developer for a copy of the warranty from the manufacturer?  If the home is under 15/20 years, there should be some time left. (not that it is neccessarily a manufacturer problem, but it will get the ball rolling) 

Maybe check your original paperwork that came with the house?

Also maybe the local building department.  In some locals, the roofing materials ( or original roofing contractors for that matter)need to be noted on the permit applications.

Maybe the bank that held the construction loan.  They often need verification of the type of materials used on the job. 

Somewhere there should be a paper trail.

Best of luck, Dan
 
You can check the bottom of one of the shingle when removed for repair or inspection.

You can ask the builder/developer.

You can check around the neighbor hood if its a development and someone had to match shingles.

You can use this list here..... http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/world/products/materials/roofing/asphalt.htm

and try doing a visual.

Either way this is just the beginning of the journey to save 5 to 10 grand.

Remember speculation here, but it sounds like improper install, along the lines

of a inadequately vented roof.  Here is a clue, when you are out driving around and you see a bay or bow window

with a roof over it, most of them are cracked due to poor ventilation, notice the same shingles on the roof

are fine.

If this is the case then the original developer/builder is responsible to solve the problem or share in the cost

of the reroof.

I know this sounds like a hard road , but that is why responsible builders carry insurance.

Per
 
I can contact the manufacturer again, they have yet to return my calls. My house was built six hours away, and pulled here by a truck driver, make that two truck drivers. If there are any members here that live near Elkhart, Indiana, and would like to go and flex some muscle for me, that would be great. I will see what I can do over the phone. The developer lives near Indianapolis, and I will try him on monday as well. I figured it is just a cheap house, and they probably used cheap shingles, but five years seems too short.
 
Rob, didn't realize it was just 5 years old.  I bet you still have some warranty on those shingles.  (maybe void because of other issues noted above)  But enough to keep heat on the manufacturer.  Keep in mind most shingle warranties I'm familiar with are pro-rated, and for material only.  Labor is on you, and I'll bet the builders warranty quit years ago.  

Dan
 
Was this house built in the winter? Those are built in heated factories. If the temp was in the teens & they moved the home from a heated area. That temp shock could crack the shingles. That would make the manufacture liable. The only other cause I can think os is poor ventalation as Dan stated.
 
it was made 3-11-03, so the heat to the cold might be a possibility. Now, let see if someone could look up the weather on that day in Elkhart, IN. I wouldn't know where to start on that.
 
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