I’ve seen this on 2 new homes I’ve inspected. This home is 8 months old. The other one was about 11 months old. The sealant used was already cracking on the other house and it appears to be coming off on this one already.
I’ve seen a lot of roofs in my life but have only seen this clear sealant on these roofs by this specific builder.
There’s plenty of clear sealants on the market, many of them specifically sold as “roof sealants”, so it’s hard to say what they used.
What are your thoughts on this specific example knowing the roof is only 8 months old? would you have any concerns?
The nails on that terminal shingle aren’t exposed. They may be eventually. You may simple want to comment on the sealant. “Sealant showing signs of deterioration, it should be monitored at least annually to ensure that no water can penetrate the roofing envelope”.
As that shingle is covering other shingles, it probably won’t ever be an issue unless the nails work themselves out. You could always recommend a better grade roof sealant.
It’s likely silicone. I don’t see an issue worth worrying about here.
Clean silicon mastic.
No issues.
Move on.
I don’t care what color it is, if its “coming off”.
Morning, Dominic. Hope to find you well.
That statement is skewed. The silicon is not coming off period.
First off, silicone sticks or adheres to surfaces through a process called curing when it transforms from a liquid to a solid. That curing creates a strong bond when applied to clean, dry, and well-prepared surfaces. It is cured.
For the most part, the silicon on the fastener heads adhered/bonded to the shingle granular surface. The outside edges of the silicon mastic was not applied properly, or thick enough, as to the manufacturers recommendations, and did not adhere to the shingle granular surface.
Also consider where the surface is located on the roof. The last ridge shingle covering a open headlap when finishing the ridge. Even without the silicon, or even the headlap portion of shingle, the chances of water intrusion is nil. The headlap shingle portion is aesthetic by any degree.
I would not worry about the outer edges of the silicon. The main body of silicon is doing its job of sticking to the granular.
The OP stated “it’s coming off”.
You & I weren’t there, maybe it is, maybe it isn’t; so I have to go with what they stated. If its loose, detached or otherwise “coming off”, then it’s got issues.
The OP doesn’t know what it even is, no idea if it’s silicone or one of a dozen clear sealants on the shelves of any hardware store.
And you know this, how? Roofers aren’t notorious for cleaning nails, preparing a surface or verifying if anything is “cured”.
YMMV.
Be nice to Robert. He is the smartest man that he knows.
