Think Twice Before Installing A Satellite Dish On Your South Carolina Roof

Sports fans in South Carolina love satellite dish TV. Any game. Any place. Any time. But before you give your dish installer the green light to go up on your roof, you should take the time to understand why dish manufacturers recommend pole or wall installations over roof mounting.

Installing A Satellite Dish On Your South Carolina Roof Is Risky

Search the internet for satellite dish installation instructions and you will find that some manufacturers publish very detailed guidelines. These recommendations make it clear that mounting a satellite dish on your roof is something you should try to avoid. Consider the following typical manufacturer's comments on the issue.

• Roof mounting should be only be done as a last resort
• Roof leaks can occur at mount holes if they are not properly sealed
• On flat roof installations, do not mount dish where water may collect
• Risk of roof leaks will increase with time
• Dish should not be mounted on slate or wood shake shingles

An asphalt shingle roof, with its relatively flat surface, may seem like the perfect location for your new satellite dish. Your roof is reasonably flat and even, and offers the best chance for a clear line of sight to an overhead satellite.

The drawback, however, is that to install a satellite dish on your roof, you must drill several holes all the way through it. Each hole is an opportunity for a roof leak to develop.

Satellite Dish Roof Installations And Water Damage

Dish manufacturers recommend that sealants be applied underneath mounting brackets, along their edges and inside any drilled mount holes, in order to minimize the risks of water leaking through your roof.

Of course, as any experienced South Carolina roofing contractor will agree, sealants are not a reliable, long-term solution for preventing roof leaks. This is especially true if there is no other water barrier in place, as in the case of a typical satellite dish installation.

Sealants are problematic because over a period of time, the elements of heat, solar radiation and wind break them down. Eventually, sealants become brittle, crack and separate, making it possible for water to pass through and get into your home.

Since a typical satellite dish roof installation relies completely on sealants to block out water, it is extremely susceptible to leaking and causing further water damage. That's a big reason why dish manufacturers strongly discourage roof mounting.

Dish Installers Are Not Experienced South Carolina Roofing Contractors

Making sure your television receives a clear and strong satellite signal is the number one concern for your dish installer. Preventing roof leaks and protecting your home are not. And through no fault of his own, your dish installer is not fully aware of roof construction concepts and best practices. These are more reasons why it makes sense to listen to satellite dish manufacturers when they recommend that you avoid roof mounted dish installations.

But if you believe you have no other choice than to go up on the roof, we urge you to review the following suggestions and minimize your risks of roof leaks and water damage.

• Make sure your dish installer follows all manufacturer's roof installation guidelines
  • Confirm the mounting bracket is located so that multiple bolts/fasteners are driven into a truss or rafter.
  • Verify that sealants are applied inside all drilled mount holes, under the mounting bracket and along its edges.

• Before you schedule a dish installation, contact a South Carolina roofing company and ask for their satellite dish roof installation methods and suggestions.

Findlay Roofing Can Repair and Protect Your South Carolina Roof

At Findlay Roofing preventing roof leaks is something we focus on every day. If you want to learn more about avoiding roof leaks when installing a satellite dish, we invite you to contact us today.

And if you fear your roof is leaking, we encourage you to call us for a free roof analysis. Whether you live in Spartanburg, Greenville or anywhere else in the South Carolina, we'll be happy to inspect your roof, find your leaks and give you an estimate for roof repairs.