What caused my current roof to wear out so quickly?
Asphalt shingles are very durable but as all things do they wear out over time, sometimes faster than we expect. Sometimes they don’t meet the their limited warranty expectations. If you bought an asphalt 3-Tab Shingle with a 25 Year warranty 15 years ago it is possible that it could already be deteriorated. Some things like weather are out of our control but a few thing can be done up front to add durability to a roof system. Here are some reasons why a roof may wear out quickly.
1) Everyday Nebraska Weather:
Nebraska has very extreme weather conditions, we face temperatures well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summers and sub zero in the winters. Heavy snows, rains, sunlight, and temperature changes slowly wear the granular off the shingles exposing the asphalt surface. When the bare asphalt surface is exposed to sunlight it will then deteriorate the shingle fairly quickly.
2) Hail Damage:
The impact of hail hitting your roof will knock loose the granules that are adhered to the surface of the shingle. Many times if you look at a roof immediately after a storm you may only notice a few spots that are darker than the shingle spread sporadically throughout the roof. These are the heavier hit areas, and it is very likely that given a couple weeks more will show up. This is because after a few rains or wind gust the granules that were once loose are now gone. Once the asphalt surface is exposed the shingle will deteriorate fairly quickly. A professional contractor should be able to help you work with your insurance company to help pay for hail damages.
3) Improper Installation:
There is a lot more to roofing than nailing shingles in a straight line. Proper flashing must be in place, manufacturer nailing suggestions should be followed, and proper underlayment must be used. If not installed correctly the shingles my blow off easily, and leaks may occur,.
4) Improper Ventilation
This is one of the most commonly overlooked issues when roofing or re-roofing a home. Attics are meant to breath, air should enter in at the soffit area and exhaust through the top of the roof. An overly hot attic will not only make your home uncomfortable but it will bake the shingles causing them to warp and crack. Whoever you have roof your home make certain to ask them to check for proper ventilation. This will add years to your roof. Click here to learn more.
5) Manufacture Defects
Occasionally manufactures of shingles have quality errors during the manufacturing process. Sometimes there are large batches of product that just don’t workout and fail prematurely. Some manufacturers products can be recognized immediately as being “the product” that has common failure. Talk to a professional if you think this is a possibility.
Nebraska has very extreme weather conditions, we face temperatures well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summers and sub zero in the winters. Heavy snows, rains, sunlight, and temperature changes slowly wear the granular off the shingles exposing the asphalt surface. When the bare asphalt surface is exposed to sunlight it will then deteriorate the shingle fairly quickly.
2) Hail Damage:
The impact of hail hitting your roof will knock loose the granules that are adhered to the surface of the shingle. Many times if you look at a roof immediately after a storm you may only notice a few spots that are darker than the shingle spread sporadically throughout the roof. These are the heavier hit areas, and it is very likely that given a couple weeks more will show up. This is because after a few rains or wind gust the granules that were once loose are now gone. Once the asphalt surface is exposed the shingle will deteriorate fairly quickly. A professional contractor should be able to help you work with your insurance company to help pay for hail damages.
3) Improper Installation:
There is a lot more to roofing than nailing shingles in a straight line. Proper flashing must be in place, manufacturer nailing suggestions should be followed, and proper underlayment must be used. If not installed correctly the shingles my blow off easily, and leaks may occur,.
4) Improper Ventilation
This is one of the most commonly overlooked issues when roofing or re-roofing a home. Attics are meant to breath, air should enter in at the soffit area and exhaust through the top of the roof. An overly hot attic will not only make your home uncomfortable but it will bake the shingles causing them to warp and crack. Whoever you have roof your home make certain to ask them to check for proper ventilation. This will add years to your roof. Click here to learn more.
5) Manufacture Defects
Occasionally manufactures of shingles have quality errors during the manufacturing process. Sometimes there are large batches of product that just don’t workout and fail prematurely. Some manufacturers products can be recognized immediately as being “the product” that has common failure. Talk to a professional if you think this is a possibility.
