An Indiana homeowner who spent $16,000 on a replacement roof installed in May 2025 says shingles began lifting by August 2026, raising questions about whether a cost-cutting choice helped create the problem.
Here's what to know
According to a Reddit post from the owner, the roof on their 1930 house had already developed raised sections, leaving them worried the still-new roof "may be garbage."
Their account described a layered setup on a 1930 home in southern Indiana: new 5/8-inch plywood sheathing over three existing asphalt layers and the original wood shake, with trusses spaced 24 inches apart. The homeowner said they bought the materials themselves and hired a local crew for the work, but no H-clips were supplied.
They also reported attic conditions that may be relevant: a ridge vent was present, but there was no soffit intake, and the space "regularly gets 120+ in the summer." Separately, the poster said lifted sheathing appeared along joints in about 6 to 10 places across the 20-square roof, pushing the shingles above those seams upward.
Most replies zeroed in on unsupported sheet edges and excessive attic heat. One commenter said, "It's pretty common to see plywood lift up like this when this isn't done," referring to plywood edges that fail to land on framing or backing. Another agreed, saying, "Majority of the issue is the improper ventilation. Cooking the entire roof."
Some commenters also used the case as a warning about acting as your own general contractor to save money. They said doing so may reduce the initial bill, but it can leave a homeowner responsible when items like seam support, decking layout, or intake ventilation get missed.
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More background
More than one commenter said the roof did not necessarily look like a total loss. For someone trying to preserve a $16,000 investment made in May 2025, the difference between a repairable issue and a full tear-off could be significant.
A commenter who identified as a builder argued that, with 5/8-inch sheathing, the lack of H-clips was probably not the central problem, writing: "Backing/strapping should have been installed under the edges of the plywood, or else the old 1x4 skip sheathing should have been removed and the plywood fastened directly to the rafters. Also, soffit venting."
Many were more concerned with the overall roof assembly than with the missing H-clips alone. The homeowner noted that many seams landed between perlins, saying, "the entire edge of the plywood is suspended, not making contact with the perlin or the trusses."
Another commenter said replacement might not be necessary immediately, but warned that the raised areas could leave the roof more susceptible to hail, wind, and cracking over time. That would likely mean continued monitoring and maintenance, with repair costs arriving sooner than expected.
What can be done?
Ventilation came up repeatedly as well, especially the need for soffit intake, because attic temperatures above 120 degrees in summer may be adding to the expansion and buckling. Other commenters said the homeowner should either call the roofer back or bring in an inspector to sort out whether the core issue is structural, ventilation-related, or both.
As one commenter put it, "It can be fixed after the fact, but it's a real pain."
Where can I learn more?
These stories show how other homeowners have dealt with expensive roof problems after major home upgrades or questionable installation decisions.
• In Texas, solar installers left his roof leaking, and months later it still wasn't resolved.
• One homeowner's roof quote added $6,400 for plywood before solar, prompting accusations of an upsell.
• In Florida, a husband's white roof experiment drew warnings about painting asphalt shingles.
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