When Do You Need To Worry About Curling Shingles?

Curling is a common problem in homes that use asphalt roofs, and it's one that you're likely to experience if your roof already has a few years behind it. Unlike many other roofing issues, you won't need a close inspection or a trained eye to spot the signs of curling. If you can see the tabs on your shingles lifting off from the corners, you know you have a curling problem.

Depending on why your shingles are curling, the problem may be limited to a few sections or more widespread. In some cases, curling can seem to spread from area to area. Understanding the underlying cause is crucial to determining how urgent the problem is and what you should do next.

The Simple Reason Why Shingles Curl

Shingles can curl for a few different reasons, but they all come down to two key issues: thermal expansion and adhesion. Your shingles will naturally expand and contract due to heating and cooling cycles. This process will cause stress that will tend to pull up on the edges of the tabs, creating a curling effect. Shingles in good condition will stay locked down, while weak shingles may break free.

Once your roof is old enough, curling is almost inevitable. Decades of heating and cooling combined with loosening nails and degraded adhesion strips will eventually cause most shingles to curl around the edges. However, other underlying roof problems can accelerate this process. If your roof isn't old enough to need a replacement soon, there may be a deeper issue.

How Your Attic Can Affect Curling

Your attic and your roof share a deep connection. In fact, attic ventilation problems are a common source of roofing issues and failures. Proper ventilation is necessary to control the attic's moisture and heat levels. Too much heat and moisture will seep through the roof decking, potentially causing numerous problems, including severe ice dams in the winter.

However, poor ventilation can also result in substantial curling. The heat and moisture can weaken shingle adhesion and encourage thermal expansion and contraction. In many cases, premature curling can be one of the earliest warning signs of a serious ventilation problem with your attic. Left unaddressed, the shingles will continue to curl, leaving your roof vulnerable to leaks.

What You Should Do To Resolve Curling

Curling is not a problem that you should ever ignore. The tabs on your shingle provide critical water protection for the lower layers of your roof, and curled shingles are both unsightly and a potential source of leaks. However, resolving curling isn't always easy. To decide how to approach this problem, you'll need to have a roofing expert inspect your roof to determine the underlying cause.

For ventilation issues, you'll need to address the ventilation problem and evaluate the current condition of your roof. You can likely repair the trouble spots if only a few shingles are curling. On the other hand, widespread curling may indicate that you'll need a new roof soon since replacing shingles across your entire roof is rarely cost-effective. 

For more information, contact a local residential roofer.