Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the potential construction problems in roofs?
The most common issue with roofs is leaking. If water is able to get around and through the shingles and other waterproofing on a roof, it will damage the components below. The result can be a rotting roof deck (the surface the shingles or other roofing is attached to), rot in the framing that holds your home up, or water leaking into the interior of the home and damaging drywall, flooring, furniture, or other items.
While a roof may look relatively simple from a distance, there actually a number of different parts that go into making sure that water that lands on the roof travels off of the roof and down to the ground below. Roofs require different flashing and water barriers for different types of roofs and at different locations on roofs.
Roofs come in a variety of forms. Roofs can be either a steep roof like the typical asphalt shingle roof on a suburban home or a low-slope roof like the flat roof typical for a condominium building or an office building. Even within those two categories, there are many variations among roofs. A steep roof can have a roof covering of metal, tile, asphalt shingle, slate, or another material. A steep roof can also have many different shapes incorporated in its design—hips, valleys, ridges, dormers, sheds, gambrels, chimneys, eaves, and rakes—which complicate the process of keeping water out and moving it down to the ground below.
On a steep roof, one of the more frequent problems is water getting in at changes in the roof’s slope, like where a chimney comes up through the roof or where two roof slopes come together and form a valley. If flashing was not properly installed at those locations, water can get under the roof covering and into the building.
A low-slope roof directs water to drains in the roof and the water then travels down piping to the ground below. A low-slope roof can be covered by a number of different membrane systems and the membrane system can be held on to the roof by fasteners, an adhesive substance, or by the weight of rocks or other material on top of the membrane.
On a low-slope roof, problems arise when the roof does not have enough slope to direct the water to the drains, when the drainage system is not large enough or is clogged, when the membrane system is punctured or torn, when water gets around flashing at the edge of the roof, or when water ponds on top of the roof.
Other Construction Defect FAQs:
- How does South Carolina law protect home purchasers?
- How long do I have to file a suit against the developer or builder for my home?
- How long does a construction lawsuit last?
- How much will a construction lawsuit cost me?
- I did not purchase my home or condo directly from the builder. Do I still have a claim against the builder?
- If I sue my builder, can I continue living in my home or condo while the lawsuit is ongoing?
- If I sue my builder, will I have to go to court?
- If my warranty has expired, does that mean I no longer have a claim against the developer or contractors?
- If the builder or developer that sold me my home, townhome, or condo is no longer in business or is bankrupt, can I still recover for construction defects?
- Is arbitration mandatory?
- What are signs that foundation or settlement problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that problems exist in the walls of my home?
- What are signs that roof problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that water leak problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that window or window leak problems exist in my home?
- What are some of the potential construction problems in roofs?
- What are some of the potential construction problems in walls?
- What are some of the potential construction problems related to foundations, soil, and settlement?
- What are some of the potential construction problems related to windows and window leaks?
- What are some potential construction problems related to water leaks?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of arbitration?
- What compensation can I get from a lawsuit for construction defects?
- What duty does a homeowner’s association have in relation to construction defects?
- What if the builder says there is no problem with my home?
- What is a class action?
- What is a construction defect?
- What is arbitration?
- What is flashing?
- What is mildew?
- What is mold?
- What is wood rot?
- What role do homeowner’s associations play in addressing construction defects?
- What should I do if I find a construction defect?
- Where does The Steinberg Law Firm handle construction cases?
- Who can sue for a problem in a townhome or condominium?
- Who is responsible and liable for a construction defect?
- Why do I need to hire a lawyer experienced in construction issues?
- Why should I worry about construction problems when my builder gave me a warranty?
PRACTICE AREAS
The most common issue with roofs is leaking. If water is able to get around and through the shingles and other waterproofing on a roof, it will damage the components below. The result can be a rotting roof deck (the surface the shingles or other roofing is attached to), rot in the framing that holds your home up, or water leaking into the interior of the home and damaging drywall, flooring, furniture, or other items.
While a roof may look relatively simple from a distance, there actually a number of different parts that go into making sure that water that lands on the roof travels off of the roof and down to the ground below. Roofs require different flashing and water barriers for different types of roofs and at different locations on roofs.
Roofs come in a variety of forms. Roofs can be either a steep roof like the typical asphalt shingle roof on a suburban home or a low-slope roof like the flat roof typical for a condominium building or an office building. Even within those two categories, there are many variations among roofs. A steep roof can have a roof covering of metal, tile, asphalt shingle, slate, or another material. A steep roof can also have many different shapes incorporated in its design—hips, valleys, ridges, dormers, sheds, gambrels, chimneys, eaves, and rakes—which complicate the process of keeping water out and moving it down to the ground below.
On a steep roof, one of the more frequent problems is water getting in at changes in the roof’s slope, like where a chimney comes up through the roof or where two roof slopes come together and form a valley. If flashing was not properly installed at those locations, water can get under the roof covering and into the building.
A low-slope roof directs water to drains in the roof and the water then travels down piping to the ground below. A low-slope roof can be covered by a number of different membrane systems and the membrane system can be held on to the roof by fasteners, an adhesive substance, or by the weight of rocks or other material on top of the membrane.
On a low-slope roof, problems arise when the roof does not have enough slope to direct the water to the drains, when the drainage system is not large enough or is clogged, when the membrane system is punctured or torn, when water gets around flashing at the edge of the roof, or when water ponds on top of the roof.
Other Construction Defect FAQs:
- How does South Carolina law protect home purchasers?
- How long do I have to file a suit against the developer or builder for my home?
- How long does a construction lawsuit last?
- How much will a construction lawsuit cost me?
- I did not purchase my home or condo directly from the builder. Do I still have a claim against the builder?
- If I sue my builder, can I continue living in my home or condo while the lawsuit is ongoing?
- If I sue my builder, will I have to go to court?
- If my warranty has expired, does that mean I no longer have a claim against the developer or contractors?
- If the builder or developer that sold me my home, townhome, or condo is no longer in business or is bankrupt, can I still recover for construction defects?
- Is arbitration mandatory?
- What are signs that foundation or settlement problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that problems exist in the walls of my home?
- What are signs that roof problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that water leak problems exist in my home?
- What are signs that window or window leak problems exist in my home?
- What are some of the potential construction problems in roofs?
- What are some of the potential construction problems in walls?
- What are some of the potential construction problems related to foundations, soil, and settlement?
- What are some of the potential construction problems related to windows and window leaks?
- What are some potential construction problems related to water leaks?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of arbitration?
- What compensation can I get from a lawsuit for construction defects?
- What duty does a homeowner’s association have in relation to construction defects?
- What if the builder says there is no problem with my home?
- What is a class action?
- What is a construction defect?
- What is arbitration?
- What is flashing?
- What is mildew?
- What is mold?
- What is wood rot?
- What role do homeowner’s associations play in addressing construction defects?
- What should I do if I find a construction defect?
- Where does The Steinberg Law Firm handle construction cases?
- Who can sue for a problem in a townhome or condominium?
- Who is responsible and liable for a construction defect?
- Why do I need to hire a lawyer experienced in construction issues?
- Why should I worry about construction problems when my builder gave me a warranty?