What are the most common causes of roof leaks?

Common causes of roof leaks include improperly installed or sized fasteners, deteriorated underlayment, failed seals around penetrations, damaged flashing, off-center screws, and long-term moisture intrusion. Metal roofs often leak when screws loosen, holes enlarge, boots deteriorate, or water follows fastener lines into the structure.

How do I know if my roof was installed or repaired incorrectly?

Warning signs include recurring leaks after repairs, uneven or off-center screw lines, visible gaps, attic staining, rapidly darkening wood, rust trails beneath panels, silicone or caulk covering damaged areas, and multiple service visits without a clear written diagnosis. Independent roof inspections can help confirm potential installation or repair issues.

Can the wrong screw size cause metal roof leaks?

Yes. Using screws that are too small or mismatched to existing holes can lead to loose fasteners and water wicking along screw threads. Over time, this can enlarge holes, allow moisture into the substrate, and contribute to rot, staining, and structural damage beneath a metal roof.

Why is my metal roof still leaking after multiple repairs?

If a metal roof continues leaking after repairs, the underlying cause may not have been identified. In some cases, only surface symptoms are patched while deeper issues such as rotted purlins, compromised substrate, misaligned fasteners, or prior concealed damage remain unaddressed.

How should I document roof damage and contractor visits?

Take dated photos before and after every visit, save all proposals and invoices, keep copies of emails and written messages, and maintain a timeline of when leaks appeared and when inspections occurred. Photograph attic staining, fastener patterns, moisture trails, and any visible repairs. This documentation is important for insurance claims, licensing board complaints, or legal review.

Is attic staining or darkened wood a serious issue?

Yes. Staining, darkening, blackening, or visible moisture paths in the attic are often early signs of repeated water intrusion. These conditions deserve prompt investigation by a qualified inspector or roofing professional to prevent further deterioration of framing, decking, or purlins.

What should I do if my roofing contractor stops responding?

Follow up in writing, requesting a response, documentation of prior visits, and a proposed plan to address ongoing issues. If communication still stops, consider contacting your state licensing board, your insurer, or an independent roofing inspector. Continued silence can be a sign the issue needs third-party review.

How can I get an unbiased assessment of roof damage?

Hire an independent roof inspector or qualified roofing professional who is not affiliated with the original contractor. Independent inspectors can evaluate fastener patterns, substrate condition, leak sources, prior repairs, and whether a repair or full replacement is more appropriate.

Can a metal roof cause wood rot underneath?

Yes. When water enters through fasteners, seams, or penetrations and repeatedly reaches the wood structure, it can cause rot, mold, and structural weakening over time. Proper fastener installation, underlayment, and timely repair of leaks are critical to protecting the underlying wood.

Are recurring leaks really 'normal' for metal roofs?

No. While metal roofs expand and contract with temperature changes, a properly installed and maintained metal roof should not have recurring leaks. Persistent leaks, especially in the same locations or along screw lines, indicate issues that need further investigation.

When should I consider filing a complaint with a Licensing Board or similar agency?

You may consider filing a complaint if a contractor repeatedly fails to resolve documented issues, stops responding to written communication, or provides explanations that do not match visible evidence. Licensing Board complaints create an official record that can be useful if further action becomes necessary.

What search terms are helpful when researching roofing contractors?

Useful search terms include 'roofing contractor near me', 'metal roof leak repair', 'roof inspection Tennessee', 'roof rot signs', 'residential roofing repair', 'commercial roofing company', 'roof fastener failure', 'roofing contractor complaints', and '[company name] reviews'. These queries can help homeowners find independent information and patterns in customer feedback.

What Happens When a Contractor Underestimates the Wrong Homeowner — and Why Every Tennessee Resident Should Pay Attention

When I started this process, I wasn’t a journalist.
I wasn’t a roofing expert.
I wasn’t a lawyer.
I wasn’t someone with a platform.

I was a social worker with a leaking roof, trusting a Tennessee roofing company to do the job they were paid to do.

What I didn’t know then — but every homeowner deserves to know now — is how quickly a simple roofing complaint can turn into a two-year battle of:

contractor avoidance
insurance contradictions
internal emails accidentally revealing the truth
shifting explanations
five months of service visits without documentation
structural rot hidden behind silicone
and finally, public attacks on Yelp and the Better Business Bureau meant to silence me

What they never expected was that I would document everything.

They underestimated me.
And that was their mistake.

This Isn’t Just My Story — It’s a Tennessee Roofing Warning

Over the next few months, I will be releasing a full archive of articles, evidence, timelines, and documentation on Medium and my website showing exactly what happened:

how a “simple maintenance visit” turned into 13 active leaks
how duplicate proposals revealed serious internal contradictions
how months of attic staining turned into structural rot
how an independent inspector confirmed widespread failure
how the company tried to settle quietly — only if I stayed silent and treatened a long legal battle if i didn’t take the offer.
and how they publicly attacked a client online when I refused to disappear

If this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone in Tennessee looking for:

roof repairs
metal roofing maintenance
commercial roofing service
storm damage remediation
residential roof replacement

And because I now hold one of the most complete roofing case records online — spanning emails, proposals, photos, legal correspondence, and a full tear-off — I’m publishing it to help protect the next homeowner.

Roofing Companies Count on You Staying Quiet

I didn’t.

When the company realized the evidence wasn’t going their way, they offered me a tiny settlement.
Just enough to make me go away —
but nowhere near enough to repair the damage they caused.

When I began posting reviews to warn other homeowners, they:

accused me of lying
implied I bought a defective roof
suggested my motives were suspicious
attacked my character on Yelp
repeated false statements on the BBB
tried to paint my documentation as “misinterpretations”

If you’re reading this because you’re a homeowner searching “roof leak Tennessee,” “roofing problems,” “Rackley Roofing Lebanon,” “Mt. Juliet roofing,” or “metal roof repairs,” understand this:

If they will treat a social worker like this,what will they do to you?

The Case They Didn’t Want Public

And the archive they never expected me to build.

Most people don’t save every photo.
Most don’t screenshot every message.
Most don’t track every service visit.
Most don’t build timelines.
Most don’t create multi-chapter public records.

But I did. Because I had to.

Today, I hold:

28+ published and upcoming articles (Medium + website)
hundreds of photos documenting the leaks, rot, and tear-off evidence
internal emails accidentally forwarded by the company
testimony from an independent inspector confirming widespread failure
a complete timeline from April 2022 to late 2026
two Licensing Board filings
a complete BBB file with documented contradictions
a public case history that anyone in Tennessee can learn from

You can explore the evolving archive here:
https://www.chris-clemens.com/rackleyroofing (summaries)

https://medium.com/@chrisclemens99 (full articles with pictures)
Support documentation & advocacy: https://givesendgo.com/GJZZB

This isn’t just about a roof anymore.
It’s about accountability.

Why I’m Publishing This

To help the next homeowner — before they lose time, money, or part of their home.

My goal is simple:

Educate homeowners about Tennessee roofing risks
Expose the tactics some contractors use to avoid responsibility
Show what real documentation looks like
Create a searchable record for anyone researching Rackley Roofing or roofing problems in Tennessee
Make sure no one deals with the silence and avoidance I did

This page exists so that:

When someone searches
“roof problems Tennessee,”
“metal roof leaks Lebanon”
“commercial roof failure Mt. Juliet,”
“Rackley Roofing reviews,”
or “Tennessee roofing complaints,”

…they don’t just see star ratings.

They see documentation.

They see evidence.

They see the truth.

If a Company Treats a Social Worker This Way…

…how will they treat a single parent?
…a retiree?
…someone without documentation?
…someone without an attorney?
…someone who can’t endure a two-year fight?

That’s why I refuse to be silent.

I’m not the first Tennessee homeowner this has happened to. But I’m determined to be the last one who goes through it quietly.