CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
Are Shingles Falling Off Your Roof?
Any damage or signs of wear call for immediate action to keep water from seeping under the shingles and rotting the wood sheathing beneath. Ignoring a problem—even what appears to be a small one—will accelerate the need to reroof and can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of a new roof.
● Occasional wind damage: Just replace the lost shingles.
● Damage from walking on them: Walk on them less or not at all.
● Age: Replace all of them.
● Hail damage: Have a roofer inspect the damage, then file a claim with your insurance.
Your roof shingles protect your home’s interior from potentially costly water damage. They also help insulate your home, holding down your heating and cooling bills. If your roof shingles are falling off, bent, or otherwise seriously damaged, you should figure out the cause and fix it as soon as possible.
Why Do Roof Shingles Fall Off?
The most common causes of shingles falling off include high winds, owners walking on their roofs, a poor shingle installation job, shingles getting too told, and hail.
1. High Winds
Shingles are designed to stay on your roof during normal winds. In extreme winds, sometimes even high-quality shingles can be damaged or torn off. If they’re on your eaves or the ridge of your roof, they’re even more vulnerable to wind getting under them and pulling them away.
2. Walking on the Roof
If you or a family member walks on the roof, there’s always the risk that you could damage a shingle or two. On a hot day, asphalt shingles are more flexible and even more vulnerable to being pulled from their nails. Of course, clay tile shingles are always vulnerable to being cracked if you walk on them.
3. Installation Problems
Were your shingles installed recently? Has there been no extreme weather lately or other causes of damage? Are shingles still falling off? Then the installation might have gone wrong in some way. Maybe the installers didn’t follow the shingle manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Aging Shingles
How many years has it been since your shingles were installed? You can expect asphalt shingles to last about 12–15 years. Eventually, the asphalt dries out and cracks, surface granules fall off, and shingles begin to curl, no longer lying flat.
5. Hail Damage
Hail does not usually knock shingles off directly, but a severe hail storm can leave bruises and cracks in shingles. These can weaken shingles until they become ineffective at protecting you from future precipitation.
Will a Roof Leak if the Shingles are Blown Off?
Holes on the roof will definitely result in leaks. But, how about shingles that have gotten loose and fallen off? This is a question that a lot of homeowners ask themselves, especially if there are only one or two missing roof shingles. So, is it something you need to worry about? The answer to that is YES, especially if the shingles do not overlap. But, how soon it will start leaking will vary.
Roof shingles are normally installed over roofing felt, and this can provide some temporary protection in case a shingle or two has been blown off. This is not strong enough to withstand water for long periods. Even with roof felting in place, water can also make its way between the felt’s seams, resulting in leaks. A shingle that fell off can also start a series of chain reactions, starting with the shingles beside its original place. An empty spot makes the surrounding area vulnerable to strong bursts of wind, which may cause other shingles to become loose or get damaged. If you decide to forego the installation of roofing felt, which is something you really don’t want to do, roof leaks will happen sooner than you think.
How Can You Tell You Have a Shingle Problem?
There are a few tell-tale signs of shingle problems. Watch for these clues:
● Loose or missing shingles
● Exposed shingle nail heads
● Asphalt shingles that are drying out, curling, or cracking
● Dark patches on your roof
● Shingle granules in your gutters or on the ground around your house
● New water leaks in your home
● Higher heating and cooling expenses
Loose or Missing Shingles
If more than one shingle is loose or actually missing, that could be a sign of a general shingle problem. Maybe it was caused by extreme weather, but your shingles also might be improperly installed or getting too old. Either way, your attic and other interior areas could be vulnerable to water damage.
That’s why you must replace loose shingles quickly. We recommend hiring a professional since this is a dangerous and complicated job. You don’t need to put yourself in a potentially hazardous environment when roofers are trained for it. You don’t want to apply it incorrectly and create more problems.
Exposed Nails
Asphalt shingles are installed using metal nails. If weather or age has pulled some nails partially out of the roof, that can cause small cracks or holes where water can get through, causing rot or other damage to your roof.
Drying, Curling, or Cracking Shingles
Drying asphalt shingles can curl or crack. These are signs that they are at least close to the end of their lives and not going to keep water out of your home for much longer.
Dark Roof Patches
Areas of your roof that suddenly look darker can mean two things. First, the protective surface granules from the shingles could be falling off, leaving the dark asphalt under them exposed. Or second, the dark areas could be moss or algae, which should be cleaned.
Falling Shingle Granules
Look in your gutters and on the ground around your house. If you find small granules like fine gravel, they could be falling off of your asphalt shingles as they age. That can leave your shingles more exposed to sun, snow, and hail, and can expose your home to water damage.
Leaks
If new leaks develop in your attic or other parts of your home during rain, snow, or hail, you could be missing shingles or have several that are significantly damaged. Leaks can lead to mold and other serious problems.