If you want a roof repair in Falls Church, VA, you won’t want to miss this one! The roof repair pros at Top Dog Home Pro took on quite a project to fix the existing roof, a previous roof repair, and other issues we found! The Falls Church homeowner was pleased with the work and the fact that she didn’t have to get a new roof just yet – her roof still had life in it after our roof repair!
See the project spotlight below for this Falls Church Roof Repair!
Shingle Repair in Falls Church:
When we first got to the homeowner’s home and inspected the roof, we immediately noticed several issues with the existing roof’s condition. For starters, the roof had numerous overlapping spots where improperly installed shingles and flashing were causing roof leaks.
As you can see in the photo below, another roofing company in Falls Church had performed a previous roof repair, and the shingles were cut incorrectly and installed improperly, leading to damming and leaks. The roof fixes were temporary and not performed correctly, with spot repairs all over the roof (see below ⤵️):
Our first step to addressing this Falls Church VA roof repair was to address the previous roof repair on the front side of the roof. The issue was inconsistent overlapping patterns and the incorrectly installed asphalt shingles were leading to roof leaks on the plywood roof decking.
The Top Dog Home Pro solution was to re-shingle the area and peel back enough asphalt shingles to replace the underlayment and then correctly install new asphalt shingles that overlapped to prevent leaking:
As you can see, the overlapping and correct shingle pattern allowed the water to flow directly onto the roof in the proper channel. The challenge behind this Falls Church roof was that the addition to the home was built with one layer of shingles (which is standard practice now) but tied into an older two-layer roof!
Fixing a Roof Leak in Falls Church, VA:
A surefire way to see the health of your roof decline rapidly is to have an area where the flashing is compromised; there is damming/pooling or debris buildup! When these are present, the chances of a roof leak increase rapidly! Below, we will detail how we fixed the roof leak area on the back of this home where the addition met the regional home.
Not only are roofs created equally, but with older homes – especially those with additions – sometimes overlapping the shingles for a simple roof repair is not possible. So, to fix this area, which was prone to roof leaks and causing the roof decking to rot, we had to address the shingles, flashing, and the valley.
1. Roof Decking Issues
The two layers of shingles on one side and one layer on the addition made it difficult to tie in the original shingles. So the poor installation caused water to enter the area. The roof decking damage had to be addressed first and foremost:
The Top Dog Home Pro roof repair team dismantled the shingles and replaced the rotted roof plywood with new plywood. After replacing the plywood, we installed a new underlayment, followed by the next step: installing the flashing.
2. Roof Flashing Issues:
The addition and the roof caused an area of the roof’s wall to be exposed to the shingles, channeling water directly into the area. Replacing the flashing, often a common cause of roof leaks, was vital before installing the new shingles. Using an aluminum shingle lasts longer and is less prone to damage.
3. Shingle Issues
The last step is to address the new shingles for the roof repair. Because the shingles could not be weaved together, we created a custom valley where, typically, there would be a shingle valley for water to drain. The arrows above point to where the water will now run, catching the custom valley before channeling down properly and preventing any future leaks.
The Final Word: Fixing Roofs
Fixing a roof leak in Falls Church, VA, can be difficult due to the age of the home and previous roofing standards when asphalt shingles were installed in the 1970s, 1980s, and even 1990s.
Also, in case you were wondering, this was a pretty extensive roof repair. In some cases, you would want to consider a total roof replacement. However, the homeowner opted for a roof repair due to the costs of a new roof and the majority of the roof still being salvageable.
And yes, the shingles are supposed to be gray. That is the original color – shingles show dirt and grime if not cleaned over time! Now, if you have a question about your home’s roof or think you need a roof repair, you can sign up for a leak detection service here or reach out to Top Dog Home Pro below!
Our leak detection service costs $99, and the comprehensive exam of your roof can be applied to any issue we find!
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