What this video covers
Juan Curling is on the third McAllen house in two weeks with the same problem: the roofer never used a starter strip at the edge of the roof. They used a leftover 30-year architectural shingle instead. That leaves a bump that never seals, water gets in behind the edge, and the soffit and fascia rot out from underneath while the roof still looks fine from the street.
- 0:21 What they used instead of starter strip: a leftover 30-year architectural shingle, hammered and glued at the eave, exactly what the last two jobs did.
- 1:19 How water gets behind it: the edge never seals tight, water runs in behind the metal, and the wood underneath goes.
- 2:12 Why the whole roof has to go: exposed nails, hips and ridges never terminated, flashing done wrong — a roof that should have lasted 30 years is finished at eight or nine.
- 2:58 “Everyone’s a roofer” in the Valley: the guy who knocks on your door has never had to answer to a customer five years later.
- 3:59 How to check who’s on your roof: third-party reviews, and whether they are actually certified with the manufacturer.
Key takeaways
- A starter strip is a purpose-made first course, sealed at the eave. A cut-up shingle is not the same thing and never seals the same way.
- Once water gets behind the edge, it rots the fascia board and the soffit from the inside — you see it from the ground years after it started.
- When the whole eave was installed this way, replacing the wood alone just buries the problem. The roof has to come off.
- This is not usually somebody cutting corners on purpose. It is a crew that was never taught to do the edge correctly, repeating it house after house.
- Before you hire anyone, check third-party reviews and ask whether they are certified with the manufacturer whose shingles they are installing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a starter strip, and why does it matter?
It is the first course at the edge of a shingle roof, made for that purpose and sealed down so wind and water cannot get under the shingles above it. Without it, the edge never bonds properly and every hard rain pushes water behind it into the fascia.
Can you just replace the rotted fascia?
If the rot is from one failed valley or a cracked pipe boot, yes. If the cause is a missing starter strip along the whole eave, the water is getting in everywhere, and new wood under the same bad edge will rot again. See soffit and fascia repair in McAllen.
How old is a roof when this shows up?
On this house, eight or nine years into what was sold as a 30-year roof.
How do I tell if my roof was installed this way?
From the ground you often cannot, which is the whole problem. Look for paint bubbling or staining on the fascia, sagging soffit panels, and dark streaks under valleys. On the roof itself we check the eave, the drip edge, the hips and ridges, and every penetration.
Do you charge for a roof inspection?
No. A roof inspection in McAllen is free and you get photos of whatever we find.
Get it looked at
Book a free inspection or call (956) 586-5711. We serve McAllen, Mission, Edinburg and the Rio Grande Valley. See soffit and fascia repair, roof replacement and roof repair in McAllen.
Frontline Roofing — 601 N Main Street, Suite 102, McAllen, TX 78501