Your Hair can Curl, but Your Roof Shouldn’t!

A roof with curling shingles is a sign that something isn’t right. When the shingles curl up and are left that way, it is a prime opportunity for rain, snow, and wind to get under them and seep down to the decking, then on into the attic. As soon as you notice any curling shingles, call a roofing contractor immediately and have your roof inspected.

What Causes Curling Shingles?

Most of the time, it is old age. There isn’t anything that will last forever, except maybe love and taxes. But when it comes to roofing, the shingles start to get dried out and the nails used to hold them get loose and start coming out. If only one, two or three shingles are curling and damaged, a simple repair job may be sufficient.

For a fairly new roof that has curling shingles, it may be from improper installation. You should contact the contractor that installed the roof and request an inspection and repair. Sadly, if you used an unknown contractor, you could be out of luck and will need to find a different contractor. This is why it is important to use a certified, licensed, reliable contractor and check their references.

Poor ventilation is another common problem found with curling shingles. Before you have a new roof installed, have the contractor check your attic to make sure it has adequate ventilation. When there aren’t enough of the right vents in the attic, it can cause hot air to build up which will rise to the top.

During the cold weather, warm air in your attic (because it can’t vent out) will cause the ice and snow to melt on the roof. That water will then run down until it hits ice or snow that is still formed, creating a dam. It then sits there and begins to seep under the shingles, and the adhesive is loosened.

Up on the Roof Top, Click, Click, Click

Most homeowners schedule their roofing jobs in the spring or summer months. In this part of the country, spring is the busiest time because of the weather we have. There are also some homeowners that prefer to schedule their roofing jobs in the fall months, but what about getting a roof installed during the winter?

While it isn’t the best time to install a roof, it is possible, even in the extremely cold temperatures we experience here. Sometimes, there is no choice because of a list of possible reasons. The roofing industry doesn’t have any set guidelines when it comes to installing roofs in a certain temperature range, even if it is asphalt shingles. Manufacturers do, however, have recommendations so that the best job is done to get the best results possible.

Take asphalt shingles for example. As the temperature gets colder, they are more prone to break and creak. As long as the roofing contractor and homeowner can find a warm place to store the pallets of shingles prior to installation, possible problems are minimized.

Another concern homeowners have is if the self-sealing strips will adhere properly in colder weather. Talk to your contractor about the process of hand-tabbing the shingles as they install them. This is where they apply adhesive on the underside of the shingles. This process will help keep the shingle in place during the cold, windy months and when the weather warms up, the sun will seal them.