Expert: Michael J. Owen - 11/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: Just had a slate roof remove and timberline shingles installed.
When job was completed it was awful. The shingles on one side of
roof are cupping, wavy not flat. The capping was nailed down with
the nails showing on the outside of the roof. When I questioned the installers, they said this is how this shingle is at first, when the sun heats the shingles up it will lay flatter. It's the end of Oct it won't be warm here again til spring. When you look up at the roof, it looks like if a strong wind blew my roof would leave with it. How can this be corrected???

ANSWER: Hi Diane. I have had this question many times in the past and the simple answer is: "There is no excuse for this to happen". If the shingles have waves in them now and are butted up to each other, where can they go when they warm up and expand?
There are several reasons for this;
1. The tar/felt paper under the shingles was bumpy when the shingles were laid and may or may not flatten out when warmed. If the contractor used 30# paper, as he should, this will be even worse.
2. The shingles were buckled before installation. i.e. not laid flat on the pallets or when stacked on the ground or roof.
3. They were not laid out across the roof in very straight lines allowing one side of the shingle to press up against the adjacent one.
4. Insufficient nails in each shingle. There should be at least four but six is far better.

As far as the ridge cap is concerned there should be no nails at all showing. These will go rusty over time. The only place for nails to be exposed is the very last cap and the nail heads should have been covered with roofing tar and the granules on top of the tar.
Here is a web site that may show how to shingle a roof.

http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/roof/maintenance/reshingle/install_1/asphalt_

You are right in assuming that a strong wind could get up under the shingles and either take them off or bend them back so much that they break off.
A total re-roof looks to be your only solution. Perhaps and independent inspection would be an idea.
Hope this helps and good luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I did not pay the balance, I feel if I pay in full that means I
am satisfied. If I go to court the judge will say you were satisfied you paid them. Where do I find a roof inspector in NY? I offered to give
the contractor 3/4 of the balance, he refused he wanted the full balance
I could not do that.

Answer
Do not pay anything yet.
As I am in Panama, Central America, I can't say who you would contact in New York. My choice would be yellow pages either under home inspections or you could find an attorney specializing in construction.
One other possibility would be to contact the BBB office in your area and ask them for advice on your best option.

Home inspections
http://www.bing.com/local/Default.aspx?cat=1332&cobrand=1&FORM=LLSV&where=New%20

Construction attorneys
http://www.bing.com/local/Default.aspx?what=construction%20attorney&where=New%20

BBB
http://www.bing.com/local/Details.aspx?lid=YN618x10554562&what=BBB&where=New%20Y