Short answer: look for uneven shingle lines, exposed or overdriven nails, reused flashing, caulk used instead of metal, missing kick-out flashing at wall terminations, and ridge vent installed without adequate soffit intake.
What you can see from the ground
- Wavy or uneven shingle courses. Lines should run straight. Waviness suggests rushed work or decking problems underneath.
- Exposed nail heads anywhere on the field of the roof. Face nailing is a shortcut and each one is a hole.
- Heavy caulk at flashing. Sealant has a place as a supplement. Where it is doing the primary job of metal flashing, it will fail under Texas UV.
- Shiny old flashing against new shingles. If the flashing looks older than the roof, it was reused.
- No kick-out flashing where a roof edge meets a wall. This small diverter keeps water out of the wall cavity, and it is the detail most often omitted.
- Shingles overhanging too far or not far enough at the eaves, which affects whether water reaches the gutter.
What you can check in the attic
- Nail points coming through the decking at odd angles, which indicates poor fastening
- Daylight visible around penetrations
- Soffit vents blocked by insulation, which means the ventilation does not work regardless of what is on the ridge
- Staining that appeared after the new roof went on
The nailing problem you cannot see
Shingles have a designated nailing zone. Nails driven too high miss the double thickness area and hold only one layer. Nails driven too deep cut through the mat. Both dramatically reduce wind resistance, and neither is visible once the next course is laid.
This is why installer selection matters more than shingle brand. A premium shingle installed badly will underperform a mid grade shingle installed correctly, every time.
The ventilation giveaway
Ridge vent with no corresponding soffit intake is extremely common and it is a real defect. Exhaust without intake does not ventilate. It creates negative pressure that pulls conditioned air out of your house. Our ventilation guide explains what balanced means.
What to do if you find problems
- Photograph everything with dates
- Check your workmanship warranty and what it covers
- Contact the original contractor in writing, not by phone
- Get an independent documented inspection for a second opinion
- If the contractor is gone, which is common with storm chasers, the inspection report is what you will work from
We inspect other contractors' work regularly and will tell you honestly what we find, including when the work is fine. Request an inspection or call (210) 245-4125.
