Roof Sailing Roof Repair and Replacement 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the first step a roofer should take when diagnosing an active roof leak?
- Immediately tear off all shingles in the wet area
- Perform an interior inspection to trace water stains and determine the water's entry point (Correct answer)
- Apply roofing cement over the entire suspected area
- Replace the entire roof section
Correct answer: Perform an interior inspection to trace water stains and determine the water's entry point
Starting with an interior inspection traces water stains to their highest point, narrowing down where water enters before any exterior work begins.
Question 2: Which asphalt shingle failure mode is characterized by the shingle surface cracking into a pattern resembling alligator scales?
- Blistering
- Cupping
- Alligatoring (crazing) (Correct answer)
- Granule loss
Correct answer: Alligatoring (crazing)
Alligatoring (also called crazing) occurs when shingle asphalt loses volatiles over time and shrinks, producing a network of cracks resembling alligator skin.
Question 3: When performing a partial shingle replacement, at minimum how many courses of shingles above the damaged area should be inspected?
- 1 course
- 2 courses
- 3 to 4 courses (Correct answer)
- The entire roof
Correct answer: 3 to 4 courses
Water can travel laterally under shingles, so inspecting 3 to 4 courses above the visible damage area ensures all affected shingles are identified and replaced.
Question 4: What is the term for the wavy, distorted appearance of shingles caused by moisture trapped in the roof deck?
- Cupping
- Buckling (Correct answer)
- Blistering
- Ridging
Correct answer: Buckling
Buckling occurs when moisture causes the roof deck to swell and push shingles upward in irregular ridges or waves across the roof surface.
Question 5: Before installing a new roof over an existing layer, how many total layers of asphalt shingles are permitted on most residential roofs per building code?
- 1 layer only
- 2 layers maximum (Correct answer)
- 3 layers maximum
- No limit — local jurisdiction decides
Correct answer: 2 layers maximum
Most building codes and roofing manufacturers allow a maximum of 2 layers of asphalt shingles before a full tear-off is required.
Question 6: Which sealant application method is used to prevent shingle blow-off in high-wind zones during a re-roof?
- Applying roofing cement under each shingle tab
- Increasing nail count per shingle
- Using factory-applied sealant strips and additional hand-applied dabs under each tab in starters (Correct answer)
- Using staples instead of nails
Correct answer: Using factory-applied sealant strips and additional hand-applied dabs under each tab in starters
In high-wind zones, hand-applying sealant dabs under each tab of starter and field shingles supplements factory sealant strips for superior wind resistance.
Roof Sailing Roof Repair and Replacement 1
What is the first step a roofer should take when diagnosing an active roof leak?