---
title: What are the Signs of a Bad Roofing Job?
description: Are you worried that your roof wasn’t installed right or want to ensure it doesn't happen? If so, there are signs of a bad roofing job you can spot. Here, you'll learn what causes bad roofing jobs and signs of a bad roofing job to help you identify or avoid poor workmanship for your roofing project.
image: https://www.billraganroofing.com/hubfs/what-are-the-signs-of-a-bad-roofing-job.png
---

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# What are the Signs of a Bad Roofing Job?

April 13th, 2026 | 8 min. read

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<https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/author/bill-ragan> ![Bill Ragan](https://www.billraganroofing.com/hubfs/Bill%20on%20hiking%20trail.png "Bill Ragan")

[Bill Ragan](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/author/bill-ragan)

** Print/Save as PDF

Did you just get a new roof and worried that it wasn't installed correctly? Or are you about to replace your roof and want to avoid getting a bad roofing job in the first place?

Roofers don’t have the best reputation. Honestly, it’s for good reasons, and this is coming from somebody with over 35 years in the industry. 

This is because too many roofing contractors do bad work and take advantage of homeowners like you. Unfortunately, it’s hard to spot a bad roofing job if you don't know what to look for or how to avoid it happening from the beginning if you can't spot it. 

**Since 1990, Bill Ragan Roofing has educated and guided Nashville homeowners through the ugliness of the roofing industry.** Because of this, I'll give you the signs of a bad roofing job and what it means to your roof investment.

In this article, you'll learn the answers to the questions:

- What causes a bad roofing job?
- What are the signs of a bad roofing?

## What causes a bad roofing job?

Bad roofing jobs can be caused by a variety of things, it comes down to the roof simply being installed improperly.  <https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/proper-roof-installation-important>[Improper installation](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/proper-roof-installation-important) can be caused by inexperience, cutting corners, or just lazy workmanship.

However, mistakes do happen, even with the best roofing contractors. The important thing is how a roofer handles a bad roofing job.  

If they’re [a reputable roofing contractor](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/tips-find-great-roofing-contractor), they should come out, find the problem, and fix it as soon as possible. If they won’t take responsibility or ignore your call completely, you'll have to [use drastic measures](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/what-recourse-bad-roofing-job) to get your bad roofing job taken care of.  

## What are the signs of a bad roofing?

Small leaks are mostly installation mistakes instead of a full bad roofing job. However, a really bad roofing job has clear signs that there are serious, long-term problems. 

| ### Sign of a bad roofing job | ### Why is it a sign of a bad roofing job? |
| --- | --- |
| Multiple roof leaks after the first rain | Multiple leaks or large leaks soon after installation means serious mistakes were made.  |
| Uneven appearance | Lifted shingles, waviness, or a bumpy look is a sign of poor installation, but only after the roof has had time to settle.  |
| Missing materials and components | Specific materials or components were left off to cut costs, by laziness, or lack of experience.  |
| Improper attic ventilation | There isn't enough ventilation, which damages shingles, creates structural damage, and increases energy bills.  |
| Damaged roof decking not replaced | The roof wasn't installed on a solid roof deck per codes, voiding warranties and leading to structural damage.  |

### Multiple roof leaks after the first rain

Mistakes happen, and installers are humans. So, it’s possible for a small leak to happen during the first rain if there are a couple of [nails driven in incorrectly](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/hand-nailing-vs-air-gun-which-is-best). 

However, multiple roof leaks or a very large one during the first rain or after a few storms is a good indication that you got a bad roofing job. It's frustrating, but remember that the reaction by the roofer is the most important aspect.

Any reputable company will get out there to take care of the problem as soon as possible if it's [covered by their warranty](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/roofing-contractor-workmanship-warranty). 

### Uneven or lack of uniform appearance  

**If your roof looks uneven or doesn’t have a uniform appearance, you most likely have a bad roofing job. **Now, a roof does need time to settle and lay flat after installation by sitting in the sun.  

![improperly installed architectural asphalt shingle roof](https://www.billraganroofing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ImproperlyInstalledRoof1-1.jpg?width=600&height=338&name=ImproperlyInstalledRoof1-1.jpg)

However, seeing lifted shingles, a bumpy/wavy look, or anything else that doesn’t look right compared to the rest of the roof after a few months is a problem. This is a clear sign that there's improperly driven nails, cut corners, or just lazy workmanship that must be fixed before big problems show up. 

### Materials and components were left off during installation

A roof is a combination of different materials and components that come together to form a complete roof system. **The biggest (and most problematic) sign of a bad roofing job is when required **[**roofing materials and components**](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/what-replaced-roof-replacement)** are left off during installation. **

The main materials and components that make up a roof are:

- [Roof decking](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/what-roof-decking)
- [Roof flashing](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/roof-flashing-important)
- [Underlayment](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/what-roof-underlayment)
- [Drip edge](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/what-roof-drip-edge)
- [Ice and water shield](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/ice-and-water-shield-roof)
- [The roofing material](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/top-types-roofing-materials)
- [Ridge capping](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/roof-ridge)
- [Roof vents](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/types-roof-vents)
- [Pipe boots](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/what-roof-boot)

Leaving anything off a roof can be caused by pure laziness and cutting corners, but the main reason is to lower prices to trick homeowners to [buying a cheap roof](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/risks-when-hiring-cheap-roofing-company). If even one of these is left off during your roof replacement, you’ll have immediate problems or huge ones down the road. 

### Improper attic ventilation

[Your attic’s ventilation system](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/why-proper-attic-ventilation-important-roof) is the key to your home breathing properly. Without proper ventilation, the air in the attic will shorten your roof’s lifespan, void warranties, and increase energy bills. 

![roof sagging caused by improper attic ventilation](https://www.billraganroofing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ImproperlyInstalledRoof4-1.jpg?width=600&height=450&name=ImproperlyInstalledRoof4-1.jpg)(Roof dip from improper attic ventilation)

There are multiple signs of poor attic ventilation that show up on a roof, including shingles cracking, curl, or severe delamination when there's trapped hot air. However, a more obvious sign is when condensation causes the wooden decking to swell, creating a wavy look and/or sagging when the weight becomes to much for the decking to bear. 

### The roof wasn't installed over a solid roof deck

[Your roof’s decking](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/what-roof-decking) is the wooden foundation for your entire roof system. Well, a huge sign of a bad roofing job is when your roof wasn't installed over solid roof decking in the first place. 

![areas with rotten wood on roof decking that need replacing](https://www.billraganroofing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RottenRoofDecking-1.jpg?width=600&height=417&name=RottenRoofDecking-1.jpg)(Areas with rotten roof decking that need replacing)

Your roofing contractor must replace rotten or compromised wooden boards before installing the new materials. In fact, this is [required per building codes](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/roofing-codes-nashville-tennessee) set forth by the IRC.  

If they don't, this can lead to severe structural damage, health issues for your family if mold forms, and void warranties. Just know the roofing contractor can’t determine how much decking needs to be replaced until they [tear off your old roof](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/roof-tear-off-roofing-contractor). 

## How do you avoid a bad roofing job?

After reading this article, you understand the cause and signs of a bad roofing job. Unfortunately, bad roofing jobs are too common in the roofing industry. 

And it all comes down to hiring the wrong roofing contractor. Unfortunately, it’s hard to avoid it if you can't differentiate between a reputable company and one that could take advantage of you. 

The last thing I want is for you to fall victim to a bad roofing contractor. That's why I wrote another article breaking down the tips you and other homeowners need when hiring a reputable roofer. 

Check out [9 Tips for Hiring a Great Roofing Contractor](https://www.billraganroofing.com/blog/tips-find-great-roofing-contractor) to ensure you make the right hiring decision for your upcoming roofing project.

[![roofing contractor questions checklist](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3406853/86214085-ef4a-4bd3-9033-10c5566661a8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3406853/86214085-ef4a-4bd3-9033-10c5566661a8)

 

 

#### Table Of Contents

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