When your roof loses asphalt shingles, even if it's just one shingle, your roof becomes vulnerable to leaking and water damage. Missing shingles should always be replaced promptly, or at least covered with a tarp so your roof doesn't start to leak. Here are some reasons your roof loses its shingles and how a residential roofing contractor can help the situation.
Strong Winds Tear Off Shingles
Strong winds in a storm can tear shingles off of a new roof, but if your roof is old, the risk of shingles flying off in a storm is greater. Part of the reason is that the adhesive strip that holds the shingles in place has deteriorated with age. This makes it easier for the wind to lift the shingles and rip them off.
A brand-new roof can have a similar problem. The adhesive strip on new shingles takes time to settle in. This happens over a period of a few weeks as the sun heats up the strip so the adhesive bonds to the roof. If a storm with strong winds blows through right after you have a roof put on, you could lose some shingles that haven't fully adhered yet. However, shingles are often nailed down as well to help prevent this from happening.
Shingles that get blown off a new roof may be covered under your roofing contractor's warranty. However, when you start losing shingles on an old roof, that might mean your roof needs to be replaced.
Animals And Branches Work Shingles Loose
Tree branches are a hazard around roofs because the branches can snag the shingles when the wind blows through the trees. Branches should always be kept far enough from your roof that they can't touch the shingles. When shingles are torn off by tree branches, a roofing contractor should replace them after the branches have been trimmed back.
Animals, such as raccoons, can tear shingles off too if they are weak and loose due to old age. Birds can also rip off shingles with their strong talons and beaks. You may need to call in a wildlife professional to get the animal pests under control and then call a roofing contractor to replace the missing shingles.
Missing Or Misplaced Nails Can't Hold Shingles
An error in the roofing installation, such as missing a nail or putting the nail too close to the edge of a shingle, could make a shingle weak and vulnerable in a strong gust of wind. Unless the roofing nails are in the right place, a shingle is at a higher risk of coming off during a storm or when an animal tries to tear it off. This problem is solved when the roofing contractor puts on a new shingle and ensures it's nailed down properly.
No matter why a shingle flies off your roof, when it happens, you'll want to replace the shingle as soon as possible. A roofer can replace one or more shingles so your home is protected from water damage. However, if the roofer determines shingle loss is due to old age, they may recommend reshingling your roof instead.
For more information, contact a local roofer, such as JCA Construction, to learn more.
