Roof Shingles

bad asphalt shingles

There are a wide variety of composition shingle roofs, which are comprised of asphalt or fiberglass materials impregnated with mineral granules that are designed to deflect the deteriorating ultra-violet rays of the sun. These roofs are warranted by the manufacturer to last from twenty to thirty years, and are typically guaranteed against leaks by the installer for two to five years. The actual life of the roof will vary, depending on a number of interrelated factors besides the quality of the material and the method of installation. Poor roof maintenance is the most common cause of roof failure, but a southern exposure can cause a roof to deteriorate prematurely, as will the practice of layering over another layer of roofing material.

However, the first indication of significant wear is when the granules begin to separate and leave pockmarks or dark spots. This is referred to as primary decomposition, which means that the roof is in decline, and therefore susceptible to leakage. This typically begins with the hip and ridge shingles and to the field shingles on the south facing side. This does not mean that the roof is ready to be replaced, but the areas that are causing the roofing shingles to deteriorate should be corrected immediately. Regular shingle maintenance will certainly extend the life of any roof, and will usually avert most leaks that only become evident after they have caused other damage inside your home. This is important because in accordance with the home inspection industry standards, my home inspection does not include a guarantee against roof leaks. For such a guarantee, you would need to have a roofing company perform a water test and issue a roof certification. However, the sellers or the occupants will generally have the most intimate knowledge of the roof; I recommend you ask them about its history.

If you would like to see your roof shingles get their full life expectancy, please follow my guidelines in the following web pages...

ROOF MAINTENANCE

ROOF VENTILATION

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Here is what my clients have to say about my home inspection services:

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Hi Dave,

I was very impressed with you on Monday when we met in Peabody . I have never seen a home inspector spend 4 hours doing the most total inspection you did. And not only doing the inspection but educating your client at the same time.

I am sending you a new client, his name is Norman C. He is a good friend of mine. He is buying a house in Wenham on lake street and asked if I knew a "good" home inspector.

I have seen a lot of home inspectors over the years. The general contractor who couldn't make it on his own and thought that being a home inspector was another way of making money. But, all the while feeding his bad information along with his bad practices. David, your not that guy. I put you in the top 5% of all the home inspectors I've seen in the past 25 years. Well done!

David Carnevale

Owner 1-800-PLUNGER