Welcome to Family Roofing

CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM 

202-276-5004

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.

 

PROBLEMS WITH ROOF SHINGLES

It’s no surprise that asphalt shingles are the most popular residential roofing material.  Not only are shingles economical, but they’re easy to install and conform to the traditional look of many neighborhoods.  While shingles are a great roofing choice, there are some common issues with this material that you may or may not experience during your roof’s life.  The best way to make sure a problem with your shingle roof doesn’t become a more serious and costly repair is to know about the potential issues that can occur.  That way, you’ll be better equipped to notice a problem and ensure it is addressed immediately.

Below are asphalt shingle roofing problems to look out for:

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 think about a roof replacement.

Cracking

The next issue you want to look for is any cracking taking place on the shingles’ surface.  As you can see in the photo, cracking is pretty easy to spot on your roof’s visible areas.  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.

Raised Shingles

If not installed correctly, asphalt shingles can be more susceptible to strong winds. As strong winds hit the roof, the shingles can get lifted and even possibly torn off the roof. Unfortunately, once a roof has raised shingles, there is no way to fix it, and the only solution is to replace the entire roof.

Thermal Splitting or Tearing

If asphalt shingles are subject to extreme temperature changes, the shingles can begin to crack and may even split completely. It can prove to be a severe issue that can impact the integrity of your entire roof, especially if any cracks go unnoticed.  Over time, these cracks can allow moisture to seep through the shingles and into other layers of roofing, which can lead to all types of serious and costly damage.