Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against the outside world. It protects you and your belongings from the elements and should therefore be kept in good condition.
If your roof is similar to others in Georgia, you probably have roof shingles. Shingles are rectangular-shaped pieces of roofing material coated with asphalt that are installed above the sheathing or underlayment of a roof and serve both protective and aesthetic purposes. Although shingles are available in a variety of materials, asphalt shingles are by far the most common because they are easy to install and are relatively inexpensive. Another plus of having shingles is that they give your house a beautifully layered look.
Shingles help to keep out precipitation and wind, improving your home’s energy efficiency. They also deflect light and harmful debris from your home and are a defense against rodents, birds, and other pests.
Unfortunately, like all other roofing materials, shingles eventually wear out thanks to constant exposure to the elements. Although they are quite durable, there comes a time when they have to be replaced.
Missing or damaged shingles can expose the interior of your house to the elements, causing untold damage to your property. Additionally, a roof with missing or damaged shingles looks shabby and neglected and this may decrease your home’s curb appeal.
What Causes Missing Shingles
If you notice that your roof is looking a little patchy with some gaps here and there, it’s likely that some shingles are missing. Some of the common reason for shingles to go missing include:
- Wind – Asphalt shingles may be tough and durable but sometimes they meet their match in storms and high winds. Powerful winds and extreme weather can rip shingles off from your roof, leaving your home unprotected. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about this except schedule a roof inspection with professional roofers after inclement weather to ensure your roof is still sturdy.
- Age – The lifespan of the average asphalt shingles roof is about 20-25 years. If your roof is older than that then expect some shingles to crack or curl or get easily damaged. An older roof has taken more beating from the weather over the years and should be replaced once it shows signs of wearing out. You can tell your shingles are old if you notice several of them cracking, curling, or losing their granules.
- Poor installation – Sometimes missing roof shingles point to a shoddy roofing job. While roofing contractors have to adhere to strict instructions when installing shingles, some cut corners or are just careless. As a result, you may notice several missing shingles on what is a relatively new roof.
Signs of Missing Shingles
Even before inspecting your roof for missing shingles, some warning signs may point to a problem. Common red flags to watch for include:
- signs of water damage on the walls or ceiling of the attic e.g. discolored spots, peeling paint
- mold or mildew on the walls or ceiling
- puddles of water collecting in the attic
- gaps in the roof letting in light into the attic
- a leaking roof
Safely Checking for Missing Roof Shingles
Now that you know what causes missing shingles and some of the signs to look for inside your home, let’s move on to checking if you have shingles missing on your roof. Getting a ladder, placing it against your house, and climbing up to the roof to check out the shingles may seem like the obvious thing to do.
However, it is extremely dangerous for people with no training to get up on their roofs. For one thing, the ladder may not be properly balanced causing you to fall over. You could also get up on the roof only to stumble and fall, sustaining serious injuries in the process. Alternatively, you could make it up on the roof with no issues but end up breaking and damaging more shingles by walking about on them.
The best way for you to inspect your roof at minimal risk is to take a pair of binoculars, take a few steps back from your house to get a clear view of the roof, and check for missing shingles. Using the binoculars, scan your roof slowly from side to side and from top to bottom. Check if you can spot any gaps in the roof which indicate a missing shingle. Also, check that all the shingles are sitting flat on the roof and that they are in good condition. Take note of any that are warped, curled, cracked, or showing any other signs of damage.
Once you’re done, it is time to turn over the job to professionals such as the roofers from Christian Brothers Roofing in Georgia.
Keep Your Roof in Good Condition with a Checkup from Christian Brothers Roofing
Checking for missing shingles is one of those deceptively easy tasks that you feel you can do on your own. However, this is a job best left to roofing professionals.
A trained eye can spot roofing problems quickly and early on before they become major issues that are costly to repair. A roofing contractor from Christian Brothers Roofing can fill you in not only on where the trouble spots are on your roof but also the causes and how to go about fixing them. Additionally, our team of experienced roofers knows how to safely get onto any roof to conduct a thorough roofing inspection and give you a quick analysis. Another plus is that we have insurance so you, your property, and our roofers are protected.
After inspecting your roof, we’ll be in a position to advise you on whether you can simply replace the missing shingles or whether your roof requires more work to extend its lifespan.
Christian Brothers Roofing has been providing excellent roofing services to residents of Atlanta and the greater Georgia for decades and our work speaks for itself. Give us a call if you need a roof inspection or other roofing services.