Common Roofing Installation Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Would you know if your new roof was installed wrong? Most people wouldn’t. A new roof is a big investment, and trusting the wrong crew is a costly gamble. In Middle Tennessee and North Georgia, where storms and humidity test a roof hard, a sloppy install shows up fast. Here are the most common mistakes — and how to make sure they don’t happen to you.
Bad Nail Placement
Shingle makers set strict rules for how shingles get nailed on. Use the wrong number of nails, or put them in the wrong spot, and you can void your warranty. Most brands require at least five nails per shingle — and more on a steep roof. Nails go through the nailing strip, never into the sealing strip. Get this wrong and you’ll likely see leaks or early shingle failure. That’s a real risk here, where high winds test every nail. Metal shingles and tile have their own rules, so the crew needs to know your exact product.
Poor Flashing
Flashing is the metal strips installed along the edges and valleys of your roof. It’s common for inexperienced roofers to install this incorrectly or not secure the flashing. This leads to the flashing buckling which will eventually lead to leaks.
Another common mistake is a roofer reusing the drip edge flashing from the edge of your old roof. Besides looking less than stellar, a worn drip edge can allow water and insects to get under your roof and into your attic. New and properly installed flashing is super important.
Wrong or Missing Ventilation
Some crews put in the wrong ventilation for your home. Good attic airflow is key — it stops moisture from building up and wearing out your roof early. This matters even more in our hot, humid summers, when attic heat can cook shingles from below. A complete system should include a ridge vent, eave vents, and baffles to keep air moving.
How to Protect Yourself
You can avoid all of this by hiring the right crew. Use a licensed, insured contractor with a strong track record. Ask if they install to the manufacturer’s spec — that’s what keeps your warranty valid. We install to GAF’s strictest standard, which is why our roofs qualify for GAF’s best warranties. And always get the scope and materials in writing before work starts.
Get a Second Opinion
Want to make sure your roof is installed right? We serve Franklin, Kennesaw, and the nearby areas with free drone inspections and honest answers — whether we did the original work or not.
Contact us or call 678-345-1711 today.
