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Causes of a Rippled and Wavy Asphalt Shingle Roof

October 23, 2022

Asphalt shingle roofs become ripped and wavy over time. As they age, the composite materials curl and split, creating a wavy appearance. Asphalt shingles within five to eight years of protection will have suffered from wavy or rippled asphalt shingle roofs. 

You might find it odd that asphalt shingle roofs also turn wavy and rippled when newly installed. The shingles must settle next to each other, lie flat, and look consistent in a week. Otherwise, call a roofer to evaluate its condition.

Here are five reasons why your asphalt shingle is wavy or rippled.

Change of Seasons

Asphalt shingles remain in excellent shape during the first weeks of spring and summer. The stable temperatures will ensure your shingles have the manufacturer's prerequisite sizes before installation.

During hot summers, asphalt shingles will expand. Roofers will have to adjust spacing due to the expanded shingle size. Winter can shrink and contract the shingles and make traversal challenging for roofers due to the slippery surface and chilly weather.

Damage Due to Wind

Roofs become wavy and rippled due to hurricanes, tornadoes, and storms with strong winds. They can push against its edges and curl it up or down from the middle.

Rippled shingles can happen when your installation team uses the wrong nails. Manufacturer-issued nails are long and dig through the underlayment and sheathing. Incorrect nailing will loosen or dislodge asphalt shingles, causing them to go missing and drench your sheathing and rafters due to water leaks.

Poor Ventilation

Trapped hot air in the attic is full of moisture that your sheathing, rafters, and asphalt shingle will absorb. The shingles will increase their size due to moisture and absorb them. Once the temperature increases, the water inside the shingles will pop and cause blisters on the shingles. Moreover, asphalt shingle thermal expansion will force the material to push against each other, causing the rippled appearance above the roof. 

Avoid this by having good ventilation. Let roofers evaluate your existing system so hot air can escape and the attic can take in cool air that keeps your roof temperatures stable. Furthermore, good ventilation improves your home's energy efficiency.

Defective Materials

Perfect asphalt shingles do not exist. Even with the best manufacturing practices, brands cannot ensure their products perform as they did in test environments. However, the more tests a material has gone through, it would likely have an excellent performance.

For example, GAF roofing materials are high-quality materials with excellent durability and a 50-year installation guarantee if installed by a GAF Master Elite Roofer. Their algae-resistant coating ensures your roof will have excellent water and leak resistance.

Poor Installation Practices

GAF-certified contractors have undergone extensive training and certification tests to achieve the manufacturer's preferred and certified installation method. Amateur roofers with no certification to install GAF roofs may commit mistakes, such as poor shingle spacing, incorrect nailing, and inability to identify defective materials.

GAF only covers certified installations with its long-term warranties. For example, a GAF Master Elite installed your algae-resistant roof, meaning your roof has a Golden Pledge warranty lasting 50 years.

SJ Winn Construction is a GAF Master Elite roofer from Torrington. We guarantee well-installed roofs under GAF's top-notch warranty and renowned in your area for top-notch roofing that lasts for decades. Contact us today to get started.

CONTACT INFORMATION

156 Torrington Rd., Winsted,
Connecticut 06098

Phone: 860-379-8863
Email: sjwinnconstruction@gmail.com

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