Missing Shingles?
Many homeowners have seen this kind of wind damage after a thunderstorm
and have had to pick up shingles in their yard following high winds. Why
does this happen, and why does it happen so often?
Self-sealing fiberglass asphalt shingles use an asphalt-based adhesive
that seals the shingle to the shingle below it after it is heated by the
sun in the warm summer months. After just a few years of exposure to the
suns ultra-violet rays and radiant heat, the adhesive dries out and loses
its adhesion. If the exposed portion of the shingle is not adhered to
the fastened portion of the shingle below it, wind can easily blow the
shingle off.
As shown in the picture above, just a single tab blown off of this 3-tab
asphalt shingle roof can leak. This tab was covering the seam of two adjoining
shingles below it. This WILL leak in heavy rains. In addition, if the
fastener is located above the manufacture’s “nail line”,
the shingle can be easily blown off.
Blown-off shingles is one of the most common problems I see out in the field and it occurs
on asphalt shingle roofs in as little as five years after installation.
What’s the answer to this problem? First, the use of an
experienced installer that guarantees their workmanship and the overall installation. Secondly,
the use of
high quality asphalt shingles that are installed in spring, summer, or warm fall weather so that they
seal properly. You can also consider the use of
metal roofing that is entirely mechanically attached, unaffected by the sun, and does
not use adhesives to seal down the material. A properly installed metal
roof can withstand hurricane force winds. For example, stone-coated steel
roofing like the
Metro Shake or
Cottage Shingle uses a unique vertical and horizontal fastening pattern:
Note that the fasteners form an X on the Metro Shake and are screwed into
the deck at an angle. It’s this type of fastening requirement that gives
Metro’s Stone-Coated Steel roofing superior wind uplift. Independent wind tunnel tests verified the
Metro Shake or Cottage Shingle could withstand winds of 200+ MPH, which
is no surprise if you talk to the hundreds of happy Metro customers living
in areas of the country frequented by tornados and hurricanes. Roof damage
is one of the most common, inconvenient, and expensive issues home-owners
face in areas prone to wind and inclement weather. Add to this that excessive
wind is usually accompanied by heavy rains, which just compounds the potential
damages and repair costs. For this reason, it is no surprise that many
insurance policies contain a clause excluding the roof from the general
home policy, commanding a significantly higher deductible on roof specific damage.
EDCO’s metal roof products offer a unique four-way interlocking roof system. Similar to our standing
seam hemmed eave, all four sides of the EDCO
shake or slate shingles have a complete 180-degree hem, making it impossible for high
wind to get under the steel.
So, if you are picking up shingles out of your yard, don’t delay, call
Walker Roofing today for a free inspection from a knowledgeable estimator to
explore options to make your next roof WIND PROOF!