The following will help you identify the potential for roof failure.
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BARE SPOTS The protective granular surface of shingles wears off
as the asphalt, into which the granules are embedded, begins to harden
over time. Bare spots are often accompanied by fine fissures on the
shingles' surface and by the accumulation of granules in the gutters. |
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CURLING The upward curling of shingle tabs makes them highly
susceptible to wind and ice damage. This is a problem on older roofs
where moisture build-up in the attic affects the underside of the
shingle. |
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BROKEN SHINGLES Damage can be caused by extreme wind conditions
and snow removal. Since shingles are supposed to shed water, broken,
torn or missing tabs become obvious entry points for water, especially
on low slope roofs where run-off is slower and at the peaks of the roof
where shingles are the most vulnerable to high winds. |
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CLAWING This is the curling under of the shingle tab's bottom
edge and is part of the normal aging process of shingles. The bulge
created is susceptible to substantial damage by wind action, hail and
ice.
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BUCKLING Buckling is a visible distortion or waviness in the
horizontal lines of shingles, and usually runs in a straight line up the
roof slope. Shingle tabs become exposed to wind and can be torn off.
Very often, the problem is warping in the roof deck caused by poor attic
ventilation. The use of thinner-than-recommended plywoods and other
non-plywood materials adds to the problem. |
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FLASHING Many problems occur at the flashings around vents, soil
stacks, chimneys and vertical wall joints. Is the flashing cracked? Is
the caulking around the flashing dried out? Are the shingles that lie
over the flashing in good shape?
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