Repair or Replace Roof Shingles1

1. Repair or Replace Roof Shingles: Making the Smart Decision When I was working as a roofing contractor, I was frequently asked questions like what to do if the roofing is getting old, what to do if only shingles are damaged, what are the best ways to prevent roofing damages, and so on. I have helped my clients to find proper solutions to different problems related to roofing. The solution to the big question Repair or Replace Roof Shingles is first to find out the main cause of your roofing problem and utilize the proper available resources considering the price factor. This article helps you find out different causes of your roofing problems and their proper solution. It helps you pick the right option and helps you to make a smart move in different situations.

2. Solutions to some problems in Roof Shingles Here are some of the common problems of roof shingles faced by house owners and construction professionals. 1.Roofing covered with moss and algae 2.Hail hit damage on roof shingles 3.Blisters on roof shingles 4.Premature aging of roof shingles 5.Roof leaks 6.Broken roof shingles 7.Pooled water on the roof 8.Tree-fall damage on roofing 1. Roofing covered with Moss and Algae The growth of moss and algae on the roof shingles is a pervasive problem in roofing. With the continuous water and sun falling on your roof, it is most likely to grow moss and algae on the edges of the roofing shingles. This leads to a decrease in the lifespan of your roofing shingles. So, it is essential to remove the moss from your roof to prevent further growth of moss and algae. Solution: Removing moss and algae is simple. Just take a broom to scratch and remove the moss and algae and spray warm water and bleach (50-50) using a simple sprayer. By doing this, the moss and algae can be removed from your roof shingles and prevents further growth. But remember, cleaning your roof in this manner should be done in regular intervals (normally twice a year). 2. Hail Hit Damage This problem is mostly confronted by those who live in the hailstorm-affected areas like central and southern plains states. The damage due to hail hit can be identified by inspection of roof for dark indentation with some granules fallen off. Another place to inspect hail-hit damage is the gutters and downspouts. If there is hail-hit damage, you can find dents and dings. You are leaning towards roofing problems if you find any of these.

3. The hail hit damages of roof shingles can weaken self-seal strips and lead to roof leaks. This eventually drives to rotting wood, electrical issues, or mold damage, which risks an expensive fix for your roof. Solution: Inspection of the roof after every big hailstorm is crucial to maintain the roof shingles. You can hire a professional roofer who can answer the degree of the hail hit damage, or you can search for any signs of hail hit damage on your roof. Based on the inspection, you should change the damaged shingles. If the damage is severe, with most of the roof shingles damaged by the hail hit, or there are holes and cracks on the roof, you should replace your roofing. Does the insurance company deal with hail-hit damage? Yes, the insurance companies generally include the hail-hit damage for house owners. You can file an insurance claim for hail hit damages. 3. Blisters on Roof Shingles If your roof is exposed to very high heat, you are likely to face this problem. Another cause of blisters is poor ventilation of the roof system. Manufacturing defects, falling of twigs, and repeated load application on shingles can also cause blisters on roof singles. Blisters can be identified by inspecting for dark spots on the shingles. Granules are shot off due to blisters in shingles. It does not cause roof leakage since there are two layers of shingles for each course. If the blisters are found in a few shingles, the damage can be ignored. However, blisters degrade the look of your roof and also shorten the lifespan of the shingles. Therefore, we suggest you change the blister's damaged shingles with new ones. Does the insurance company deal with hail-hit damage? No, the blisters on shingles are different than the hail hit. Poor installation, poor ventilation, or manufacturing errors can be the cause of blisters. So, the insurance company does not deal with the roofing damage due to blisters. 4. Premature Aging of Roof Shingles The lifespan of the roofing shingles is roughly determined by the materials used in the roofing. People begin to worry when they see unexpected and untimely aging of their roof.

4. The cause of this problem is a bad batch of shingles with manufacturing errors, or selection of wrong material for roofing in a particular area, or massive growth of moss and algae, or poor maintenance schedule. Preventions of premature aging of roof shingles Premature aging of your roofing shingles can be your nightmare with lots of expenses. You should follow the following points to avoid premature aging. Select a suitable material for shingles that can withstand the weather conditions of your area. Buy singles from highly certified suppliers for your roof. Hire certified professional roofers or contractors for roofing your house. Inspect and carry out maintenance works of the roof shingles at regular intervals of time. 5. Roof Leaks It is so difficult to live under a leaking roof. The leaking roof can damage your decking system and the valuable things inside your house. The roof leakage can be caused due to hail hit, cracks, openings, woodpecker drilling, falling of twigs from trees, poor construction, low spots or valleys on the roof, and many more. When your roof leaks, the first thing you need to do is find the cause of the roof leaks and act accordingly. If you cannot find the cause of the leakage, we suggest you hire a professional roofer and act accordingly. 6. Broken Roof Shingles If you find any broken shingle on your roof, check whether it is damaged with blisters, hail hit, wind, or something else and take necessary actions as discussed in the above topics. If the shingle is completely worn off, you should change it, which is less expensive and prevents roof leaks and degradation of other components of your roofing. 7. Pooled water on the Roof

5. This problem mainly occurs in flat roofing systems with low spots and valleys where water gets collected. Such collection of water on the roof leads to wood rotting and other problems caused by moisture. Such a problem eventually degrades the lifespan of your roofing system. Blockage of the gutters and downspouts can also cause water to collect on the roof after rain. Solution: If you saw any big indentation, low spots, and valleys on your roof, you must immediately repair your roofing to prevent other problems as mentioned above. To solve this problem, look at the drains if they are clogged or not. If you constantly find debris like leaves and twigs fallen from the trees, you should hire a roofing contractor to install gutter guards which minimize the clogging problem. If you have slope roofing, find the low spots on your roof, remove shingles from the low spots, apply roofing plaster and level it properly, and then place the removed shingles into their place. If you don’t find any low spots and cannot find any cause of the pooled water, the roofing is not constructed as per the code. In such a case, it is better to hire a professional roofer for an inspection. 8. Tree-Fall Damage on Roofing Sometimes, the fall of a large branch or tree can cause scratches on the shingles and even great damage to your roofs like dents, holes, and cracks. So, if you have trees near the house and have low branches above the roof, you should trim those branches and cut down unstable trees to protect your roofing. Pro tip: The tree branches be at least 6 ft far from your roof as a rule of thumb and trees should be at least 25 ft away from your house for ensuring the branches won’t get above the roof. The Cost Factors and Lifespan for Roofing The cost of roofing shingles is another constraint to consider while repairing or replacing the roofing system. Some of the most used materials for roofing with their cost are listed below. S.N. Types of roofing Cost per sq ft ($) Estimated lifespan (Years) 1. 3-Tab Asphalt Shingles 0.8-5.5 20-50

6. 2. Metal Roofing 2.8-10 30-70 3. Membrane Roofing 3-20 20-50 4. Green Roof 10-30 30-50 5. Wood Shingles 5-10 15-50 6. Slate Shingles 8-15 60-150 7. Clay Tiles 10-20 More than 100 8. Concrete Tiles 3-50 50-100 9. Stone-coated Steel Tiles 1.85-4 40-80 10. Solar Tiles 20-30 20-50 These gaps of estimated lifespan in years depending on the location where the roofing is done. The lifespan of the roofing is in the lower number of years where it is extremely hot, extremely cold, heavy snowfall, heavy rainfall, heavy storms, and/or heavy hailstorms. Similarly, if the area has a pleasant and nice climate, the expected lifespan falls in the higher range. Conclusion Some of the most common problems of roof shingles and their causes and solutions have been discussed above. Most of these problems can be prevented by regular inspections and regular maintenance works of roof shingles. Moreover, it is also necessary to contact a local roofing contractor for any difficulties that can be confronted regarding your roofing system.