Missing the point- How not to install a roof

Submitted by DonHester on Thu, 09/20/2012 - 07:22.

Missing the point- How not to install a roof – Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection Services

Sometimes you have to wonder. I was just on a recent home inspection for a client. I had been asked to inspect a home that they recently purchased.

My clients were not satisfied with the inspection they received. They had good reason for this.

As I am walking up to the home I knew the home had been recently been reroofed. Unfortunately the roofers roofed over the initial roof. This is a terrible practice in my book… but legal if it meets certain requirements.

From the IRC (International Residential Code)-

New roof coverings cannot be installed without first removing all existing layers of roof coverings where any of the following conditions exist:

·        Where the existing roof or roof covering is water-soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a base for additional roofing.
·        Where the existing roof covering is wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile.
·        Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering.
·        For asphalt shingles, when the building is located in an area subject to moderate or severe hail exposure according to Figure R903.5.

Well this roof meets these requirement but we had another issue. When asphalt roofing is installed the fasteners need to meet a certain standard.

Proper asphalt Roof nailing

From the IRC-
Fasteners for asphalt shingles shall be galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum or copper roofing nails, minimum 12 gage shank with a minimum 3/8-inch diameter head of a length to penetrate through the roofing materials and a minimum of 3/4 inch into the roof sheathing. Where the roof sheathing is less than 3/4 inch thick, the fasteners shall penetrate through the sheathing.

Here we can see that this has not been done. This roof is now going to be prone to wind damage. Also they used staples in some areas a complete no-no here in Washington State.

Improper length nails

The previous inspector not only did not inform the client that this roof had been roofed over but had missed that it has been installed completely wrong.

In my book this is completely wrong.

“Wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues. “

Abigail Adams

NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

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Missing the point- How not to install a roof