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If you’ve owned your home for some time, one of the inevitable replacements that you will need to make is to your roof. Replacement of a roof is a major expense that runs into thousands of dollars, depending on the size of your home and the materials that you choose. But the cost when that roof replacement turns out to be defective can be catastrophic, especially if the roofing contractor fails to stand by their work. If this should happen to you, a construction law attorney can help.
The Average Lifespan of a New Roof
The life of a new roof depends on the type of material that is used:
- Slate, copper, or tile roofs can last approximately 50 years
- Shake roofs can last approximately 30 years
- Fiber cement shingles can last approximately 25 years
- Asphalt shingle/composition roofs can last approximately 20 years
Signs of Defects
Unfortunately, when a defective roof has been installed, the outcome can be disastrous. In most cases, the damage has already occurred by the time the homeowner discovers their new roof is defective. And if that defect isn’t taken care of, the damage will just continue to get worse, putting the safety of everyone in the home at risk. Signs of a defective roof can include:
- Cracked or peeling paint on the ceilings of the home
- Cracked shingles
- Discolored plasterboard
- Loose seams
- Missing shingles
- Peeling wallpapers
- Worn flashings
Causes of Damage
A defective roof can result in damage to personal property, interior framing, ceiling, paint, drywall, and other parts of a home’s structure. Usually, this damage is due to water intrusion which can also cause molds and fungi to propagate. The most common reasons why these issues occur are:
- Broken or chipped tiles or shingles
- Deteriorating roofing
- Improper flashing installation near skylight or chimney saddles
- Loose or sliding roofing
- Metal cut too short
- Misaligned, overexposed, or improperly lapped roof tiles
- Open gaps at the flashing joints
- Roofing felt fails to cover the roof
- Using the wrong nails which result in corrosion
Some of the most common reasons a construction law attorney cites in the most defective roof cases include the following:
- Poor installation
- Poor workmanship
- Use of defective roofing materials
- Use of low-quality materials
Contact a Construction Law Attorney Today
If you have been the victim of a shady or incompetent roofing contractor who failed to meet the obligations he or she had with you, you may be able to take legal action against that contractor. Call an experienced attorney, like a construction law attorney in Rockville MD from a firm like The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright.
