I want to talk a little bit about flat roofs and architectural shingles. In the last few years I have come across this issue several times. Most architectural shingle manufacturers do not recommend installation under a pitch of 4, many manufacturers will allow installation with a pitch of 2-4, but there are certain underlayment instructions that must be followed in order to not void the warranty. When architectural shingles are installed on a flat roof, water can become trapped under the shingle. On a pitched roof the water won’t stay trapped. However, on a flat roof, there is no place for the water to go. This can cause the roof to become weak, and develop leaks more quickly. I have 2 encountered two roofs that had architectural shingles installed on very low pitch/flat roof in just the past two weeks. One was installed less than 3 years ago, the other was installed about 4 years ago. Both had been weakened over time from improper drainage and both had to have the wood replaced in those section. There is a huge misconception with shingle warranties. Shingle warranties cover mostly shingle malfunctions and defects, these are rare. The majority of issues with roofs that are less than 5 years old are workmanship issues. Your insurance does not cover workmanship issues. That company that gave you a great deal on your roof, but won’t stand behind their work can cost you a lot more money in the long run! These two examples ended up with costly repairs that could have been avoided with proper knowledge and installation of an appropriate roofing product. Always find out about the workmanship warranty any roofing company offers!
If you have any questions about low slope/ flat roof solutions or if you need a roof repair, give us a call (864) 261-0841.
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