If you opt for gravel installation tips, you are exactly correct with us. But first, a true story … 17 years ago I worked for a small roofing company in Cape Coral, Florida. The boss had a new flat roof to house owners who had sold a leak on the grill. The flat roof was very old and obviously needed a replacement. But after installing one of our teams reported a new flat roof, the irritated homeowner that the roof still leaked in the same place.

The boss sent me totake a look. The leak was found in a back corner of the flat roof, directly at the base of a valley in the shingle roof. When I saw it I knew it was a leak of the valley. I've seen that exact same situation many times before.

Based on the location, I could not believe that the boss has not been sold a valley along with the replacement flat roof. I thought we would probably stick replaced free of the valley. But the boss was the guy who could sell ice to Eskimos. He actuallygot the homeowner to pay for the new valley. I did the work and noted that the valley metal had rusted holes all the way through. Of course, we had found the leak … Or so I thought. Next rain, calling the homeowners angry again. In the same leak. Same place.

I went back to a new look. The only thing I see is a small dip in the installation of gravel on the roof transition. The boys had not tapered very well from the layers of flat roofs. The shingle roof was only about 3:12Runway and I could see a bit of diving as the water leak and could hold. So I went to the boss that we had to repeat the transition to our brand new flat roof. Since there was no way the owners wanted to pay for it, we were having to eat that cost. So, now the boss and the owners were furious. Until I was made to work and it rained again. In the same leak. Same place. They were not only angry, more … There had been furious.

The official name for leaks then"Head-scratcher." Over the years I have become somewhat more philosophical about it. I have the number available, so they teach me patience … and me humble! At that time, but I was more than angry, and the head of the homeowners together. In fact, I decided if I could find so stupid leak, I wanted to leave the roof altogether. I went back into the house once more and sat down on the flat roof to find out where the water has always been in. We had everything they were resolved,can be.

That's when I noticed a nail out of the shingles. It was several feet from the top of the valley … but it was right in line with the leak. The rusty nail was the same color as the shingles and see virtually impossible to get up. It was so loose I could pull with your fingers. It took only a few minutes to repair the nail holes to … and there was the leak. The owners needed a new flat roof and valley, but it was causing the dang nail thatLeak.

The lesson here is that protruding nails (or "nail pops", as they cause are usually called) leaks. In fact, they are one of the most common problems when installing shingles. They normally occur when the roofer nail gun and a nail with a seat is not the whole way. Over a period of time, pushes the protruding nail through the gravel on eventually caused a leak.

To prevent it, make a habit to have a look at the nails you just installed. Keep a hammer handy and smackSetting a to put himself up. Will also take a look at the roof over one months moved to the shingles. The time to be put shingles is pretty flat. From the ground, it is simply a shingles that are sticking a little to see. They are nail-pops. Just insert the loose gravel, first thing in the morning when the shingles are cool and the protruding nails pounds down.

Of course there are many more "shingle plant" information you need to know. To the jobfacilitate and help you avoid major mistakes, go to: http://www.roofingsecrets.com

Bishop John C. is the author of "Roof Secrets: How to Avoid leaks and save thousands of dollars!"

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Tags: Installation, Shingle