Cupping: A Disaster For Your Shingle Roof
by William Gerard
Cupping is a problem that affects older asphalt shingle roofs. Knowing how to spot it and what to do if it occurs helps prevent extensive water damage in your home.
What It Looks Like
Cupping is easy to spot on a roof, even in its early stages, and you should be able to notice it from the ground. When it first starts, only a few shingles may be affected. The edges of the shingles, particularly the corners, will begin to curl upward first. Not as noticeable is the fact that the center of the shingle is slowly becoming more concave as the edges cup up around it.
As more shingles begin to suffer, the entire section will develop a wavy appearance from the curling and sinking of each shingle. As the edges curl more, the nailing edge of the shingle underneath will also begin to show. This is always a sign that you need a roofer as soon as possible.
Why It's Bad
Cupping is more than just a cosmetic problem. Old asphalt shingles are less flexible due to years of weathering and UV exposure which leads to the loss of the oils in the shingle material. Moisture exposure and temperature shifts then stress the already failing shingle. The result is the curling edges as the asphalt shingle begins to break down.
Water can seep easily under the shingles once they begin to cup. What may start out with one cupped shingle can quickly become several. Moisture that makes its way underneath the shingles neighboring the cupped one will speed up the process that leads to curling so that soon multiple shingles must be replaced. Otherwise, water damage in your attic will soon occur.
What You Can Do
Since cupping is primarily a result of aging, cupped shingles typically mean the best course forward is a roof replacement. If only a few show early signs of cupping, you can postpone replacement for a few more years by having the damaged shingles replaced promptly. The key is to replace them before the damage begins to spread to the neighboring shingles.
For extensive cupping, it's better to act sooner rather than later. Putting off a roof replacement can make it more expensive because the constant water leakage from the damaged shingles will damage the roof decking below. In severe cases, water damage can occur inside your home. If you replace it as soon as you notice the cupping issue, you may only need to replace the shingles and not the decking.
Contact a home roofing service for more help.
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About Me
Do you know how to tell if you have problems with your flashing, loose shingles, or damaged tar pitch? Well, I didn't either until I experienced some of those issues on my own. One day, I realized that my roof was leaking and that I needed to find a solution fast. After contacting a professional roofing company, they were able to solve my troubles and teach me the signs of trouble. I want you to avoid the same types of hassles, which is why my blog is filled to the brim with information about roofing and home ownership. You never know, these tips could really come in handy!