Everything You Need To Know About Curling & Buckling Shingles

buckling shingles

Colorado falls in the humid continental climate zone of North America, making your home vulnerable to the heat. The summers in Denver can reach up to an average high of 88° F. With a temperature this high, it won’t come as a surprise that our roof sustains great damage. The damage often comes with curling & buckling shingles, which can indicate major problems with your roof.

But how does buckling or curling on asphalt shingles look?

If you find your shingles being pushed upward as if something is inside them, it is the case of buckling. Moreover, a case of curling looks like your shingles are in the shape of a concave where the edges are turned up, and the center is sinking inside.

These issues are mostly caused by moisture trapped inside your roof deck and underlayment. While you can notice these issues from ground level, it is important to contact a professional roofing contractor to know the extent of the damage.

Common Reasons For Buckling & Curling

While we have already pointed out the very common reason for buckling & curling is moisture, let’s explore how moisture can get trapped and other factors.

Moisture: Moisture is the biggest enemy of a roofing system. If you had recently replaced your roof and decided to keep the same roof decking, it may have absorbed moisture before roof installation. This moisture causes the decking to move and shingles to buckle. It can also cause your roof underlayment to absorb some moisture, wrinkling it and pushing asphalt shingles upward.

Attic Ventilation: One of the other reasons for buckling shingles is poor ventilation. As hot air and condensation build up in your attic, it could make your asphalt shingle buckle and curl on your roof.

Improper Roof installation: If your roofer has failed to put the nails on your shingles properly, it can lead to shingles pulling away and buckling or curling!

Roof Sheathing: If your roof sheathing was not installed at a minimum space of ⅛”, it can lead to expansion and contraction, resulting in buckled shingles.

What is the solution?

If you are a homeowner, it is best to call Sol Vista Roofing the first thing you notice your curling or buckling shingles. We will be able to get on your roof, inspect it and find the root cause of the damage.

We will allow the moisture to escape from your roofing system. Once the moisture level is balanced, the shingles would lay flat and shouldn’t return.

Furthermore, if the extent of damage is big, we will remove the affected shingles and fix the wrinkled felt so that it will lay flat to the roof.

Moreover, we will assess your roof ventilation and make sure that it meets the basic requirements of the manufacturer’s guide. We may also install new vents as per the requirement to allow proper ventilation in your attic and roof.

How can you prevent this from happening?

Prevention is better than cure holds true for your roofing system too. You can prevent the buckling and curling of shingles by ensuring that your roof decking wood material is approved by roofing manufacturers and has been properly conditioned to be moisture balanced.

You should never expose your decking material to water before or after the installation. Moreover, always use asphalt shingle felt underlayment which is up to industry standards to avoid moisture under your shingles.

If your asphalt shingle has started to buckle or curl, it is best to contact the roofing specialist at Sol Vista Roofing to have it inspected and repaired. We will define the extent of damage and provide the necessary solution to restore your roof to its original state.