Welcome to Family Roofing

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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.

 

Common Roof Shingle Problems

Asphalt shingles are durable and weather resistant.  However, they will age over time, may need repairs, and eventually, they will wear out to a point where they need to be replaced.  Harsh weather, sun, heat, moisture and wind all contribute to the wear and tear of a roof system.  Asphalt roof shingles are designed to fight against these conditions, yet over time they will succumb to repeat confrontation with severe environmental conditions.

Problems you will start to see with your asphalt shingles as your roof wears and ages are:

1. Cracks and tears

2. Dents from debris or hail

3. Missing shingles

4. Blistering or buckling

5. Curling

6. Missing granules

How Do You Tell if Your Shingles Need Replacing?

A new (or newer) roof should hold up in most weather conditions.  When severe storms hit, however, even a new roof can take a beating and develop some shingle issues.  If high winds or hail beat down an asphalt shingle roof, it can certainly start to show some problems.  When you take a look at your roof or request a professional inspection, you might notice some of the issues we listed above.  If you are not familiar with the composition or look of an asphalt shingle with damage, you might overlook problems and concerns with your asphalt shingles. Damage on an asphalt shingle can be subtle to the untrained eye.

Common Roofing Problems Resulting from Damaged Shingles

When a roof’s shingle appearance and stability starts to deteriorate, other problems will develop that can cause damage to the rest of your home.  With roof shingle damage, you might start to notice other issues like blocked gutters, leaking, or mold.  These are the most common problems when a roof develops difficulties.  Leaking and water build-up from damaged or missing asphalt shingles can be frustrating and require extensive repairs.  This is why a good sturdy roof is so important for your home.  It’s one of the first lines of defense against the elements and problems.

Blistering

One of the most common asphalt shingle issues that contractors are called out to fix is blistering.  This happens when moisture trapped within the shingle expands and pops/breaks through the surface and creates an exposed spot.  Most of the time, blistering occurs during the high-temperature summer months.

There are many origins for blistering.  One of which is when moisture makes its way into the shingle during the manufacturing process.  For a little bit of background, shingles typically consist of three main layers: A fiberglass backing, a coating of asphalt, and then the granules on the top.  If moisture somehow makes its way between any of these layers, the potential for blistering is higher.

Another reason for blistering is poor ventilation of the roof that creates trapped moisture. Improper ventilation is the cause of many shingle roofing problems, so it’s critical to make sure the contractor is installing the shingles to allow for adequate ventilation and airflow.

Blistering exposes your roof, decking, and property to the elements, which can ultimately lead to leaking and premature failure of the roof system.  That’s why it’s critical to address any blistering spots sooner rather than later.  Additionally, blistering can sometimes resemble hail damage on your roof.   Still, most contractors or roofing repair professionals can tell the difference and provide the best fitting solution.

Curling

The next common asphalt shingle roofing problem is curling.  If you’re looking up at a shingle roof and see the edges of the shingle lifting off the roof’s surface or the corners turning upward, you’re seeing curling.

There are a several reasons that your shingles are curling, including:

• The shingles are nearing the end of their useful lifecycle.  Eventually, shingles will start to shrink up and curl, which is a sign that it might be time for a new roof.

• The shingles were improperly installed.  For example, misaligning the shingles during the installation or roofing over existing shingles that weren’t level (without a roof tear-off) could cause curling.

• There are existing ventilation issues where trapped moisture has caused the shingles to curl.

• One of the most popular reasons that shingles curl is due to a phenomenon called thermal shock.  Thermal shock refers to when the high temperature of the roof suddenly cools rapidly.  For example, if you have a warm day, the roof temperature will be higher because shingles absorb a lot of heat.  Then, perhaps the weather quickly changes, cools down, and causes the roof to drop in temperature.  This thermal shock can affect your shingle roof and start to create a curling effect as it happens over and over.

Like blistering, curling can lead to leaks and general roof failure if left unattended for a significant amount of time.  Once you notice your shingles curling, it’s best to get that repaired or about a roof replacement.

Cracking

The next issue you want to look for is any cracking taking place on the shingles’ surface.  Cracking is a natural part of the aging process for shingles.  Over time, wind, roof stresses, thermal movement, and deck movement aid in a shingle cracking.  So, if your roof is older and some surface cracks don’t completely split or tear through the shingles, it’s most likely because the shingles are older.

What you want to look out for is any premature cracking on a newer shingle roof.  This could indicate that something happened during the installation, that there is a manufacturer defect that created a tainted product, or that there isn’t adequate ventilation for the roof system.  Again, cracking shingles are something you want to address immediately, as it can compromise the water-tightness of the roof if left unfixed.

Granule Loss

The next problem you might notice on your shingle roof is granule loss, which is where the top layer detaches from the shingle and falls off.

For a little bit of background, the granules added to the top layer of a shingle are finely crushed stones or ceramic that have pigment (organic and in-organic types) applied to them.  In addition to the color that granules provide, it also creates a protective barrier to prolong the life of the shingle roof.

All shingle roofs will experience some level of granule loss over time due to weathering and exposure.  However, if a large number of granules are in your gutter or specific spots of your roof are missing significant granules, it could be several causes, including:

• The asphalt in the middle layer was not applied evenly or consistently throughout the shingle and has created an adhesion issue.

• The roof overheated, melted the asphalt, and caused granule loss.

• The roof is not properly ventilated, so there’s a problem in the property itself, the attic space, the insulation, or beyond.

If granules fall off at a high rate and the problem isn’t addressed, it can lead to clogged or blocked gutters, overall UV damage to the exposed shingle, leaking, or roof failure.

Mold, Mildew, & Algae

The next issues we’re going to cover are mold, mildew, and algae growth on or around your shingle roof.  These occurrences are especially common in high-humidity areas and on northern-facing roofs that are heavily shaded or rarely get sun.

Most of the time, the algae, mildew, and algae, which often looks like black streaks down a roof, are cosmetic issues that can be remedied.  There are anti-algae shingles available for purchase if you’re concerned about organic substance growth.  However, if the problem persists, these organic substances can cause the roof to trap moisture.  Trapped moisture can wreak havoc on the roof underlayment and even rot out a plywood or OSB roof deck.

Missing Shingles

Since shingles are installed piece by piece, it’s possible for individual shingles to unattach and/or come off the roof.

This can happen for many reasons, including:

• A strong wind lifted the edge of the shingle and disengaged it.

• Something impacted or hit the roof and caused the shingle to disengage.

• The sealing on the back of the shingle (black strip in the middle of the shingle) is broken/brittle.

• The shingle was installed at too low of a temperature, and the seal couldn’t become engaged.

• The seal was never properly engaged in the first place.

When a shingle comes off your roof, it’s best to get that repaired and replaced as soon as possible.  Not fixing it can leave your home or business exposed to the elements for an extended period of time and create another problem on top of the missing shingle (think water damage).

Remember:

• Choosing a qualified and reputable contractor is a critical part of avoiding potential problems.

• Make sure to do routine checks of your shingle roof to look for any warning signs.

• Do not try to fix the problem yourself or without professional assistance.

• Thoroughly review the warranty and what it does and doesn’t cover before you buy.

• Ask questions and remain educated on potential problems.