Why Roofs Fail Early

Why Do Roofs Fail Early?

A roof should last for decades, but plenty give out years before they should. When that happens, the cause is rarely bad luck. It usually traces back to one of a handful of preventable problems.

Poor Ventilation

This is the biggest one. When an attic cannot breathe, it traps heat and moisture. That trapped heat cooks the shingles from below, leading to heat blisters and premature wear, while trapped moisture causes condensation that rots decking and grows mold. Inadequate ventilation can also void your manufacturer warranty, leaving you on the hook for a failure that should have been covered.

Poor Installation

A roof is only as good as the crew that installed it. Improper nailing is the single most common cause of shingle blow-offs, and shortcuts at flashing, valleys, and penetrations create leaks that show up later. This is exactly why the quality of your contractor matters so much.

Cheap, Wrong, or Missing Materials

Sometimes a roof fails because the builder reached for the cheapest product instead of the right one, used materials that were not suited to the job, or simply left components out. A roof is a system, and skipping pieces of that system shortens its life.

Ice Dams

In Colorado's winters, and especially in the mountains, ice dams form when snow melts, runs down the roof, and refreezes at the cold eave, backing water up under the shingles. Homeowners often make it worse by climbing up to chip the ice off, and in the process they strike and puncture the shingles at the eave, causing the very damage they were trying to prevent.

Pests

It is not always weather. Animals, raccoons and squirrels in particular, will chew on shingles and roof components, creating openings that turn into leaks.

Overflowing Gutters

Gutters are easy to ignore until they cause expensive damage. When they clog and overflow, water spills back into the fascia and soffit, rotting them out and sometimes working its way into the home's interior. Keeping gutters clear is one of the simplest ways to protect a roof.

The Good News

Almost everything on this list is preventable. A quality installation, proper attic ventilation, the right materials, and basic maintenance will get you the full lifespan your roof was designed to deliver.

At Excel Roofing, we have been helping homeowners get the most out of their roofs across the Denver metro, Colorado Springs, Casper, and Sheridan since 1993. We're On Top Of It. You Don't Pay A Cent Until You're Content.

SOURCES 

•  Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, Wind Uplift of Asphalt Shingles: https://ibhs.org/wp-content/uploads/member_docs/Wind-Uplift-of-Asphalt Shingles_IBHS.pdf

• Structure Tech Home Inspections, Frost in Attics: Why It's There and How to Fix It: https://structuretech.com/attic-frost/