Reasons your Shingles are Curling – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

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Reasons your Shingles are Curling

So you were driving up the driveway the other day, when you suddenly noticed your roof.  “Is it supposed to look like that?” you wondered.  Upon taking a closer look, you realized that the shingles on parts of your roof were starting to curl upwards.  If you’re pretty sure they haven’t always looked like that, you’re right.  Curling shingles are not a good sign for your roof, and it’s probably a good idea to get that roof fixed before more hard weather hits.  But more importantly, why are your shingles curling in the first place?

Poor attic ventilation – In your home, hot, moisture-filled air typically rises to the attic.  If your attic is well-ventilated, this is not a problem because the excess moisture will be circulated around and pushed back out of the attic.  But if not, you’ll begin to see problems.  If your attic is poorly ventilated, all of the moisture from the rising air tends to get trapped in the decking, which will cause mold to form, and shingles to curl as a result.

Multiple layered roofs – Sometimes, homeowners opt to lay a second roof on top of an old, decrepit one.  While it’s not recommended, many people choose this option because it’s much cheaper than stripping the old roof and starting over.  Though it saves on upfront cost, this usually leads to premature shingle curling.  The shingles on the second layer of the roof won’t be as secure, and are easily blown and curled by high winds.

Shingles were improperly installed – The most common problem here is that whoever installed your roof didn’t use enough nails per shingle, or improperly placed the nail.  Either way, this is a sure way for your shingles to curl.  If there aren’t enough nails holding the shingle down or the nails are placed in the wrong spot, it’s likely to work itself out over time, leaving the shingle loose.

Old age – One of the most common causes of curling shingles is age.  Simply put, your roof just might be too old.  If you have an asphalt roof that was done more than 12-15 years ago, and the shingles are curling, it’s probably time to get it re-roofed.  You’ll save yourself a lot of time and money if you redo it now, before the shingles become a real problem and begin to let in water.

If your roof’s shingles have begun to curl, no matter the reason, it’s probably a good idea to get them replaced.  Curling and missing shingles mean possible leaks in your roof, which can eventually lead to water damage – a much bigger problem.