What Are 5 Important Signs That Asphalt Shingles Need Replacing?

Architectural and dimensional shingle products installed by asphalt shingle roofers are some of the most functional and cost-effective roofing products available today for homeowners to invest in.

Offering much higher quality and value than the asphalt shingles of the past, they can last a long time; however, no shingles installed by even the best asphalt shingle roofing services will last forever.

At the first sign of any of these symptoms, homeowners should seek an asphalt shingle roofing contractor and start planning for a roofing replacement.

  1. Widespread Cracking, Breaking, or Missing Shingles - These are the most obvious signs that it is time to arrange for asphalt shingle roofing services due to the current installation starting to fail. Widespread cracking and shingles breaking off suggest that the materials have dried out and can no longer withstand weather conditions such as wind, heavy rains, and further UV sunlight damage and there is a significant risk of rotting of the decking and support structure.
  2. Granule Loss - The second most common issue that asphalt shingle roofing contractors see that indicates an installation will soon fail and needs replacing is the loss of the protective granule coating. Whether it is knocked off by hail or falls off due to the shingles drying out, granule loss, and evidence of granules collecting in the gutters, means the shingles no longer have the critical impact and UV protection from this coating.
  3. Curling Shingles - Asphalt shingle roofing services are definitely needed right away when the corners on a current installation start lifting off the roof and curling upward. This can happen when shingles are heat damaged, or if the adhesives holding them down starts to fail.
  4. Blistering Shingles - A poorly vented attic can cause serious widespread damage to a shingle roof in the form of blistering due to overheating. Asphalt shingle roofing services warn that when shingles overheat from the underside due to poor attic ventilation, moisture trapped inside the shingle material can blister and pop, destroying the protective top layer of the shingles.
  5. Buckling - Caused by a combination of overheating and loss of adhesion, shingles that buckle under appear to be curled shingles in reverse. As it is with curled shingles, this loss of adhesion destroys the watertight design of how the shingles lay flat against each other, allowing leaks that cause slow decomposition of the materials.

Leaks and other roof damage are caused in countless ways.

When it comes to the shingles themselves, asphalt shingle roofing contractors find these 5 issues to be the most common reasons for failure.

Regardless of age, any shingles exhibiting any of these problems need attention from asphalt shingle roofers that can replace them with a new, protective installation.