Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
What are the
aging signs in shingles?
A:
All shingles, whether
organic or glass based, will be subject to UV rays from the sun,
causing the asphalt coating to dry, loosening the granules covering
in the long run.
Just like people, asphalt shingles gradually change with the passage of time. Signs of this aging process may appear as early as the first couple of years, during what is often called the Curing Phase. At first, you may notice small surface cracks, or a few small blisters. These changes will not affect the ability of the asphalt shingles to protect your roof, and are an anticipated part of the aging process.
During the Stable Phase, these signs of aging will slow down dramatically. The duration of the stable phase may last 20-30 years, but is dependent on many factors including the type of shingle, construction of the shingles, the condition of your roof and roofing ventilation, the slope of your roof, as well as the workmanship of your roofing contractor.
Near the end of the expected life of asphalt shingles, the aging process begins to speed up. This is what is called the Final Phase, during which most homeowners start to think about replacing their asphalt shingles.
Q: What does it mean when your shingles
are curling?
A: One of the things you may notice is a
slight curling of the shingles along the bottom edge, particularly
during cold weather. This is a normal occurrence of shingles
and result from the natural loss of the oils from the asphalt
covering the felt. As the asphalt loses it’s oil, it slowly
becomes more rigid, and may shrink at a quicker rate than the felt.
Q: What does it mean when
your shingles are blistering?
A: As asphalt shingles age, large bubble-like
blisters may appear on the surface, some as large as a quarter.
They may be open, exposing the asphalt, or closed. Blisters
are more likely to appear when there is inadequate ventilation, or
in areas where tree sap drips onto the shingles. Small “rash”
blisters do not affect the performance of the shingles.
Q: What does it mean when
your shingles have surface cracks?
A: Just like skin that has been exposed to
the scorching heat of the sun, the surface of shingles react in a
similar fashion. Like your skin, asphalt shingles may develop
small surface cracks. This is a result of asphalt shingles
becoming more brittle over time. Thermal shock and deck
movement may also increase the occurrence of surface cracking.
Q: What are ice dams and
how can they be avoided?
A: Ice dams are formed by continual thawing
and refreezing of melting snow. Large masses of ice develop as
snow on the upper part of the roof melts. The water runs under
the snow and refreezes at the edge of the roof. Additional
snow melts and forms pools against the dam gradually causing water
to back up the roof often getting under the shingles and eventually
leaking into the house. Causes other than heat escaping from
the home include:
- Bright sunshine melting the snow;
- Insufficient attic insulation allowing the heated air of the attic to reach the roof deck and melt the snow (This could happen anywhere on the roof surface);
- Naturally occurring ice accumulation due to various weather conditions;
- Poorly placed gutters prevent snow and ice from sliding off the roof;
- Inadequate attic ventilation.
How to avoid ice dams:
- Install waterproofing membrane on eaves and in valleys to prevent water from penetrating the roof.
- Improve attic insulation keeping the attic space cool, thereby reducing the amount of melting snow.
- Improve attic ventilation to ensure that the attic remains cold.
- Make sure that your gutters or eaves troughing are lower than the slope of the roof allowing snow and ice to glide off.
Q: Why are the shingles
bubbly or bumpy?
A: Small bubbles or bumps will sometimes
develop on the surface of roofing materials. This is referred
to as blistering and will generally appear within 2-3 years of
product installation. Small rash blisters, 7 mm (1/4”) or
less, will not normally affect the performance of the shingle.
Large blisters, often up to 2.5 cm (1”) in diameter, can shorten the
life of the shingle as they often break exposing the underlying
components of the shingle. Causes include trapped moisture,
inadequate ventilation of the attic, excessive use of adhesive, or
the use of non-compliant adhesive.
Q: Why do different
shingle types carry different warranties?
A: In today’s market, there are many types
and styles of shingles available. The various types of shingles come
with warranties representative of the life expectancy of each type.
Generally speaking, the heavier the shingle, the longer the
warranty. All other things being equal, the weight difference
comes from the amount of waterproofing material used during
manufacture
Q: What are the black
streaks on my roof?
A: Usually visible on North-facing
light-coloured roofs ranging from five years old, discoloration or
streaking is sometimes mistaken as dirt, moss, or granule loss.
It is actually caused by algae growth that propagates in areas of
the roof that receive less direct sunlight, and thereby retain a
higher level of moisture. Although most noticeable on light
shingle colours, the algae affects all asphalt shingle roofs,
including darker colours. The discoloration caused by the
algae is in no way indicative of a shingle defect. This is an
aesthetic concern and will not harm the shingle or shorten the life
of the roof. The algae discolouration is difficult to remove
from roofing surfaces, but may be lightened using various solutions
available at most lumberyards.
NOTE:
- Cleaning the shingles is a temporary solution as it will eventually grow back due to higher humidity levels in areas of limited exposure to direct sunlight. The cleaning process will have to be repeated every few years.
- Care must be taken when cleaning the algae as to not remove excessive amounts of granules that are attached to the surface of the shingles.
Q: Why are the corners of
my shingles turning up?
A: Corners of shingles
turning up is referred to as Curling and is generally caused by
excess moisture attacking the underside of the shingle.
Inadequate ventilation causes the entrapment of heat and moisture in
the attic. This will eventually penetrate the roof deck and
cause the shingles to curl. Improving air circulation within
the attic space can stop the process and rectify the situation if
the curling is not too severe. In some rare instances, curling
can reveal itself only under cold weather conditions. This
would be referred to as winter curling. The corners of the
shingles will slightly curl up from the roof deck when cold, then
lay flat again during warmer weather. This is especially
prevalent during damp winter conditions when frost forms on the top
surface of the shingles. This cooling on the top surface will
cause the shingle to contract while at the same time the underside
of the shingle in contact with the roof receives a certain amount of
passive heat from the attic space. The variation of
temperature between the top side and underside of the shingle will
result in some minor curling. This does not affect the
shingle’s durability and effectiveness to shed water.