Shingle roofing is appealing to so many homeowners because it comes at an affordable price and looks attractive on all kinds of different homes. Asphalt shingle roofing is one of the most popular choices for roofing in the United States and many other parts of the world. However, it doesn’t come without its disadvantages. Any issues that have the potential to let water leak into your home are important and require your immediate attention; that’s why any homeowner with a shingle roof needs to understand the causes and effects of curling shingles.
A healthy shingle roof will have a flat, even, and consistent look to it, so curling shingles will be pretty obvious even to the untrained eye. Curling (or cupping) shingles can affect roofs of any age, and aren’t uncommon to see on a new freshly-installed roof. If you’re seeing some shingles curling up towards the sky, it means your roof is plagued by one of a few potential underlying issues. Let’s go over some of the things you’ll need to know before you call a Southlake roofing contractor.
Common Causes of Curling Shingles
Layered Shingle Roofing
While it’s not exactly the best choice to make for your home, it’s not uncommon to see homeowners simply install a second layer of asphalt shingles to their roof over the pre-existing roof. This is a terrible example of being penny-wise but pound-foolish. While you’ll save yourself a lot of the initial expenses involved in tearing up the first roof, layering your roofing can lead to all kinds of headaches as time goes on. Curling shingles will happen because the top layer will be less-securely attached to the roof deck, since it’s being secured through a layer of softer materials below. As a result, your shingles will be more prone to strong winds.
Do yourself a favor and shell out the dough for a complete re-installation including stripping down the old roof to build a new single-layered roof.
Poorly Installed Shingles
This is probably the most common issue that leads to shingles detaching from the roof and curling. Roofing is a common profession, and the simple truth is that not everybody is good at it, even if they’re properly licensed. Before you contact a roofing company, you’ll want to make sure you’re talking with a roofing professional who has a solid reputation and lots of experience.
Installation problems can include headaches like positioning the nails in the wrong places, or simply not using enough nails to secure each shingle. The nails themselves are what hold the edges of the shingle in place, so if there are gaps, wind will be able to blow right through, causing curling shingles.
Also, a sub-standard roofer might reel you in with attractive prices that he can only make possible by using inadequate roofing materials. You’ll want to spend some time looking up the types of asphalt shingles your roofer has agreed to use for your project, and make sure they’re suitable for your home. Additionally, even a good roofer may receive a shipment of bad products. Defective materials on your roof should typically be covered by a warranty, and your homeowner’s insurance will often assist with damage from defective curling shingles. Your friendly neighborhood experts at Gotcha Covered Contracting can help you determine if any of these installation problems are threatening your roof.
Poor Ventilation
Attic ventilation is one of those issues that many homeowners simply don’t think about it; and, if your roofing contractor doesn’t take the time to ensure that your roof has proper ventilation, you might see curling shingles, or an array of other issues. Especially in warmer climates, a roof that doesn’t properly disperse heat to help stay cool will see some damage. Poor ventilation can result in curling shingles, discoloration, and even an overall shortening of the roof’s lifespan.
If you can’t identify any of the other potential issues we’ve discussed leading to those ugly cupping shingles, then ventilation is probably your culprit.
What Should I Do About Curling Shingles?
The first thing you’ll want to do is check whether the warranty for your roof is still active. If so, a few of these issues may be covered, saving you a lot of time and money. In some other cases, such as a bad roofing job or a neglectful contractor, your insurance company may be able to help you.
In the meantime, if you do spot curling shingles on your roof, give us a call at Gotcha Covered Contracting as soon as you can to make sure that your home doesn’t take on any more damage. We’ll help you learn about all of the different options you have to protect your home for years to come.
