Roof Damage Types

Select a type of roof damage from the following list to see more details:

 

Excessive Loss of Granules

The granules not only add color to the shingle, but protect the mat of the shingle from sunlight, add weight and add fire resistance to the shingle. Excessive Loss of granules will expose the mat and shorten the life of the shingle. It is normal for shingles to lose some of granules over time.

 


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Minor Blistering

As the roof gets older it starts to blister. Blisters expose the mat and shorten the life of the shingles. Blisters are raised areas either open or closed. Open blisters expose the mat of the shingle. Closed blisters are a bubble in the granules and will become open when they pop.

 

 


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Cracked Shakes

Shakes are made of wood, so as they age they develop cracks. These cracks are more critical if they expose the underlying felt. Shakes have two main purposes:

  1. cosmetic-many people like the rustic look of shakes
  2. shakes protect the underlying felt from the weather and other elements.

If the felt is exposed to the weather for an extended amount of time, it will dry up and crack and potentially create a leak.

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Missing Shakes

Missing shakes are more critical if they expose the underlying felt. Shakes have two main purposes:

  1. cosmetic many people like the rustic look of shakes
  2. shakes protect the underlying felt from the weather and other elements.

If the felt is exposed to the weather for an extended amount of time, it will dry up and crack and potentially create a leak.

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Curled Shakes

Shakes are only a problem if they are curled over 2" above the shake below it. Shakes which are curled less than 2" do not expose the underlying felt to enough of the weather and other elements.

Exception: curled shakes are more prone to hail damage than flat shakes, even shakes curled less than 2".


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Scarred/Damaged Shingles

Scarred/Damaged shingles expose the mat and shorten the life of the shingles.  Damage can be from trees, foot traffic and other

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Minor Heat Cracking

Minor heat cracking occurs as the roof ages. It is one of the first signs that the roof is nearing the end of its useful life. In most cases the roof can still be certified for one to three years, depending on the severity of the heat cracking.

 

 


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Major Heat Cracking

When a roof has been heat cracking for an extended period of time, it becomes major heat cracking. At this point the roof has reached the end of its useful life and is not certifiable.

 

 


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Curled Shingles

When organic matted composition shingles lose their granules and expose their mats they begin to dry out and curl.

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Hail Damage on Composition Shingles

Hail damage on composition shingles has many different looks. Not all hail storms will damage the shingles. Each roof needs to be inspected individually to see if it has been damaged by hail.

 

 


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Hail Damage on Shakes

A shake must be split or broken to be considered hail damage.

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Missing Shingles

Shingles can become missing due to excessive wind, age or improper nailing

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Lack of Vents

Decreases the life of the shingles, the underlayment, roof support and can increase your energy bills.

 

 

 


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Cracked/Broken Down Sealant

This is typically a routine maintenance issue and new sealant is needed periodically to keep roof penetrations water tight.

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Improper Flashing or Missing Flashing

Can lead to leaks where roof meets penetrations, such as chimneys and skylights or where the roof meets a wall.

 

 

 

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Old Age

Can be exhibited by any combination of heat cracking, loss of granules, blisters, brittle shingles and curling shingles.

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Hip and Ridge Face Nailed

The nails are exposed on the ridge leaving area subject to leak around nail and this nailing pattern is not to code.

 

 

 

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Brittle Shingles

Age related, can be accelerated with insufficient ventilation. Shingles are no longer pliable enough to patch repair.

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Delaminating

This occurs when the protective coating of the discontinued Woodruf shingles disintegrates.

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Tree Damage

Scarred and damaged shingles in a specific area that has been brushed over time by a tree branch.

 

 

 

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Manufacturer Defect

Can be seen as premature blister, loss of granules or heatcracking

 

 

 


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Old/Cracked Pipe Jack

Neoprene rubber boot disintegrates over time and needs to be changed to avoid leaks at the plumbing vents they are protecting.

 

 


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Not to Code

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Cosmetic Only; Not Considered as Damage to Roof

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