Prime Residential Development

Shingles age in many different ways. From the ground, your roof may look fine, but there are little things you should look for to determine if you need to replace your roof in the near future


This is an exaggerated example of old shingles. As you can see, most of the tiny granules are gone exposing the more sensitive fibered layer to the weather. Without the granules, the shingles crack in sun and a leak will form very soon. Although it is difficult to spot from the ground if you have a black or dark color shingles, if you see spots where granules have worn off, it may be time to replace your roof.


These shingles to the left are at the end of their life on the verge of a possible leak. As you can see, the edges are beginning to curl and the gaps between each tab are widening. If your roof looks like this one, you should have it replaced as soon as you can to prevent more costly repairs.

There are a few inexpensive steps you can take to extend the life of your roof. Properly ventilating your roof is a must. All the heat in your attic will cook your shingles from the inside out if it has no where to escape, shortening the life of your roof by as much as fifty percent. Installing a ridge vent, soffit vents, gable vents, or a few pod type roof vents. A poorly ventilated roof can look like the roof in the picture above in as little as 10 years, instead of the average of 20 years.


Moss is another enemy of your roof. If left alone, it will take half of the life from your shingles. As the moss grows, it will loosen the granules and lift the tabs eventually causing leaks. It also holds moisture and eventually rot the roof sheating. Scrubbing your roof with a non-chlorine bleach cleaner will kill the moss, but the scrubbing may brush off some of the granules which is almost as bad as leaving it there. Installing zinc strips at the ridge will also kill the moss and in most cases, prevent re-growth. The best way to prevent the moss is to cut any trees back that are hanging over your house which allows for the damp environment that is causing the moss to grow in the first place.

 

Algae is more of an eyesore than a harm. It will only take a few years off of your roof, but the unsightly black streaks are enough for most people to replace their shingles years ahead of time. Algae damages your roof in the same way as other molds and mosses by loosening the granules and exposing the fibers of the shingles, but it takes longer to deal its damage. It can be cleaned in the same ways as the moss above. Shingle manufactures are now adding chemicals to their shingles making them algae resistant, so those unsightly black streaks are a thing of the past.


Whenever cleaning your roof, avoid power washing and keep scrubbing to a minimum. If you keep your roof free of mold, algae, and make sure it is well ventilated, you should easily get the full life from your shingles and eliminate costly repairs from the damage caused by an unnoticed leak.