Why Are Your Shingles Curling and What Should You Do About It?
Posted on: 25 November 2019
When you look across your roof, all of the shingles should lay flat. This should be true whether you have the more modern architectural shingles or the older-style 3-tab shingles. If the edges of the shingles are beginning to curl up, that is not a good sign. Here is a look at what can cause curled shingles, along with some tips for handling this situation.
What Causes Curled Shingles?
Curling occurs when the top portion of the shingle shrinks while the bottom portion of the shingle doesn't. The top portion then pulls the bottom of the shingle "up" resulting in a curled pattern. So what causes the top of the shingle to shrink like this? Usually, it is excessive heat.
That heat can come from the sun. If you installed shingles that were only rated for cooler-climate homes on a house in the desert, you might see this effect. The heat can also come from inside the home, which is more common when you see curling shingles in a temperate climate. If the attic is not well-insulated, heat will escape from the roof, and over time will cause the shingles to curl.
If you only see shingles curling in one area, that may mean insulation is just lacking in that part of the attic. Then, check to see if there is a vent or chimney nearby; heat from that source may be leading to the curling, too.
How Can You Deal with Them?
Curling shingles don't always cause a leak immediately, but they will eventually start chipping off the roof, and you can count on having some leaks at that point. If only a few shingles are curled, then you just need to have a roofing company replace those shingles. While the roofers are there, ask them for input as to why the shingles curled on your roof. They will probably recommend adding more insulation to certain parts of your attic to prevent the new shingles from also curling. If the curling is happening near a chimney or other projection, they can install some more flashing around that projection to help reflect the heat.
If all of the shingles on your roof are curling, then you probably need to have the roof replaced. This time around, make sure the roofing company uses durable, heat-resistant shingles. Consider upgrading your insulation at the same time you have the roof replaced. Insulation does become compacted and less effective over the years, so if yours is old, that could be the ultimate issue here.
For more information, contact local roofing repair services.
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