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The Life Cycle of Your Roof

Shingles are extremely durable and hardy roofing materials. They seldom fail prematurely but they do age.

Signs of aging within a short time after installation of your new roof system could be precursors of premature failure or simply a natural part of the aging process. Read your roofing literature carefully. Odds are that you are looking at natural aging.

The Hostile Roof environment

How does normal weathering affect your roof?

Consider the conditions your roof has to endure. First there is the intense heat of the sun, which scorches the surface of the roof and raises temperatures 50-75 degrees above ambient temperature. The sun's rays are relentless, especially during the early afternoon hours. In addition to the heat, the sun is the source of ultraviolet rays, which has been shown to de-grade and accelerate the aging of the asphalt layers of the shingle. If not for the protective layers of the granules, roofing shingles would fail quickly. Other factors such as moisture, pollution and physical effects (roof traffic, hail, snow loads, tree limbs, etc) all contribute the aging and degradation of your roofing shingles.

Seasonal and weather changes also play a role in the aging of asphalt roofing shingles. For example, consider the common situation in which the roof is bathed in the intense heat of the summer sun. On such a day the rooftop may reach temperatures in excess of 160 degrees F. Now imagine a cold front sweeping through the area, brining with it the violent thunderstorms that are a common occurrence during the sweltering days of summer. Almost instantaneously, the rooftop temperature drops 60-100F as it's pounded with a summer shower. Thermal shocks such as this cause the roof deck beneath to expand and contract, placing a stain on the shingles. Year after year this process is repeated, resulting in cyclic fatigue of the shingles.

In addition to all of the climate and external variables that can impact the performance of your roof, consider the internal factors that negatively influence the performance of roofing shingles. Research has confirmed that improperly ventilated air space inhibits air movement and under most circumstances increases moisture content in comparison with properly vented attic air spaces. heat shortens the shingles' life and moisture causes deck movement and/or deterioration, which ultimately affects the performance of shingles.

As you can see, the roofing environment is a hostile one with many factors influencing the longevity of your roofing shingles. the natural aging process begins as soon as the shingles are installed on your roof. Day after day the shingles are exposed to the elements-sun,rain,heat and cold. Your roof never has a "good" day.

You may be asking yourself, "What can I expect my roof to look like as this aging process takes place? "One or more of the following conditions may occur over time:

Curling

As the asphalt hardens over time, the granules which were once securely embedded begin to break away. Occasionally you may have seen the colored granules in your gutters. Also as this hardening advances, the asphalt layers begin to shrink. Of course all of this is occurring at a microscopic level and is not something that will be noticeable on a daily basis. As the asphalts shrinks, it is being countered by the shingle reinforcement which resists shrinking. We now have a situation which the top and bottom coatings are shrinking and the reinforcement is remaining stable. As a result the edges of the shingle may begin to curl over time.

Surface cracking

Another manifestation of the normal aging process amy be the development of surface cracks. For example as the flexibilizing of oils of the asphalt are depleted due to heat. The shingle becomes more brittle to the point where surface cracking may appear. The stresses created by thermal shock, in the movement of the roof deck also increase the likely hood of surface cracking.

Blisters

During the course of natural weathering small bubble like raised areas known as blisters may appear on the surface of the shingles. The blisters may be small and pea size and as large as a quarter. The blisters may be open exposing the asphalt or closed. Blisters frequently result when minimum ventilation requirements are not met.

Staining

Finally over a period of time, shingles may appear dark brown or black streaks that are sometimes mistaken for soot, dirt, moss or tree droppings. In actuality this discoloration may be caused by algae growth. Although most roofing systems are susceptible to algae discolorations, it is most readily visible on white or light colored shingles.

When your new roof was installed, friends and neighbors may have remarked how it enhanced the beauty of your home. However research indicates that aging begins soon after the shingles are installed and progress rapidly during the initial curing phase of it's life cycle. During this stage, granule loss may occur, small blisters may develop or the shingle may curl slightly at their edges. You may even notice that this curling is more pronounced during cold weather and the shingle may lie flat as the temperatures rise. The good news is however that after the curing stage, the shingle enters a long period of slow aging which last for the major portion of the shingles natural life. During the mid life period, aging continues at a much slower rate. Cracking or granule loss still occurs but does not increase at a noticeable rate. Only after this long period of mid life does the aging process begin to accelerate once again as the shingle enters their declining years. It is during this period homeowners normally think about replacing their roofs.