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Shingles are extremely durable and hardy roofing materials. They
seldom fail prematurely. CertainTeed shingles are considered by many to be the
premier shingles in the industry. In fact, less than 1% of all CertainTeed
shingles are found to have manufacturing defects. But they do age.
Signs of aging within a short time after installation of your new roof
system are not unusual to find -- sometimes even within the first year.
As a homeowner you want to know whether the symptoms you see are precursors of
premature failure or simply a natural part of the aging process.
Note: Reproduction of colors throughout this web site is as accurate
as modern color screens will permit. Colors are subject to changes by granule
manufacturers. Before making a final selection, please consider the following:
1) Request full shingle samples;
2) See actual roof applications;
3) Inasmuch as the appearance of a roof may vary depending upon the light
exposure, consider viewing several roof applications under various kinds of
light, i.e. bright sun, partial sun, full cloud, etc.;
4) Determine if the pitch of your roof will impact how a shingle color and
style will look on your home. To make the best selection, view homes with your
shingle color choice with roof pitches similar to your own.
SUN, RAIN, HEAT AND COLD…
YOUR ROOF NEVER HAS A "GOOD" DAY
How Normal Weathering Affects Your Roof
Consider the conditions your roof must endure. First there is the intense heat
of the sun, which scorches the surface of the roof and raises rooftop
temperatures 50 - 75°F above ambient temperature. The sun’s rays are
relentless, especially during the early afternoon hours. In addition to heat,
the sun is the source of ultraviolet radiation, which has been shown to
degrade and accelerate the aging of the asphalt layers of the shingle. If not
for the protective layer of colored granules, roofing shingles would fail very
quickly. Other factors such as moisture, pollution and physical effects (roof
traffic, hail, snow loads, tree limbs, etc.) all contribute to 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°F. Now imagine a cold front sweeping
through the area, bringing with it the violent thunderstorms that are a common
occurrence during the sweltering days of summer.
Almost instantaneously, the rooftop temperature drops 60 - 100°F as it’s
pounded with a summer shower.
Thermal shocks such as this cause the
roof deck beneath to expand and contract, placing a strain on the shingles.
Year after year this process is repeated, resulting in
cyclic fatigue
of the shingles.
In addition to all of the climatic 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 an 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.
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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 progresses rapidly during the initial
curling phase (see Figure 1) of its life cycle. During this stage,
granule loss may occur, small blisters may develop or the shingles may curl
slightly at their edges. You may even notice that this curling is more
pronounced during cold weather and the shingles may lie flat as temperatures
rise. The good news, however, is that after this curing stage the shingles enter
a long period of slow aging, which lasts for the major portion of the
shingles’ natural life.
During the “mid-life” period, aging continues at a much slower
rate. The 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 shingles enter their declining
years . It’s during this period that homeowners normally think about
replacing their roofs.
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Even a One-Year-Old Roof May Look Different from a Roof that Was Just
Installed:
Just as the human body ages and changes appearance over the years, so too will
your roof. Due to the severity of the roof environment, even a one-year-old roof
may look different from a roof that was just installed. While you may have first
noticed the cracks or blistering from the ladder as you were cleaning the
gutters, please be mindful that these normal weathering characteristics may not
be visible when you view the roof from your front lawn or driveway. And if the
problem is not severe and the shingles are still providing the protection
intended, then it is not a cause for alarm.
Your roof is an important investment, since it literally protects you
from the elements. While there are no magical creams or ointments to prevent
your roof from aging, investing a small amount of time to examine your roof can
reduce your anxiety and concerns about the normal aging conditions that
affect it.
The asphalt roofing industry manufactures a variety of shingle styles. The classic
three-tab shingle is the industry standard. However, as manufacturing
technology became more sophisticated and architectural styles began to change,
the “applique” and laminated shingles evolved.
The Applique shingle is essentially a three-tab with a second layer
of asphalt and granules applied. This unreinforced applique is a
decorative enhancement that serves no function other than to create a look of
dimensionality.
Laminated shingles (see Figure 3) differ from the
“applique” variety in that two or more reinforced shingles are
actually “glued” together using a special laminating asphalt. The net result
is that the laminated shingle will create a more distinct and textured look for
the roof and provide added protection.
CertainTeed’s unique Shangle® and Super Shangle® products are
heavyweight laminated shingles with additional features like random tabs and
chamfered corners.
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Material Defects
CRACKING THROUGH THE REINFORCEMENT AND BALD SHINGLES ARE SERIOUS DEFECTS
Cracking Through Reinforcement
Depending upon the style of shingle, the normal weathering characteristics
described earlier may be a sign of more serious problems. For example, cracks
across a typical three-tab shingle may be a sign of a weak reinforcement (see
Figure 1). This type of cracking threatens the waterproofing integrity of
the roof and needs to be addressed immediately.
For the applique-style shingle, on the other hand, cracks that are restricted
to the unreinforced decorative applique are the result of normal weathering and
do not compromise the long-term performance of the roof system.
Granule Loss Exposing Asphalt
Large areas of granule loss that expose the underlying asphalt place the shingle
at risk of premature failure because UV rays can now get to the asphalt layer.
In situations in which hail has knocked off large areas of granules, you can
expect the life of your shingles to be appreciably reduced due to the effects of
ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Shingles with open blisters in which the
asphalt becomes visible are also at greater risk for premature failure.
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