Simple Repairs for Asphalt Roofs

By Matt Weber

Add life to your shingles.

Roofing installation is a costly and complicated project, which is why it makes sense for homeowners to stretch their improvement dollars by maintaining their existing asphalt shingles to the best of their abilities. The roof is the primary weather barrier of the home—a place where damage should never go unaddressed. The forces of harsh weather and ultraviolet rays will inevitably wear the roof to the point of requiring replacement, but homeowners can conduct some basic upkeep procedures that will help keep out the rain a little longer.

Shingle Repair

Do-it-yourselfers who aren’t afraid of heights can make simple but important repairs to loose shingles and flashing. Asphalt shingles are the most widely used roofing material in residential construction, accounting for roughly 80 percent of the U.S. market. Today’s asphalt roofing greatly outperforms the shingles available 30 years ago, but still costs significantly less than higher-priced rivals (including tile, wood, cedar, slate and metal). Typically, very little maintenance is required; but that does mean some.

After a couple of decades, or after severe storms, you’ll need to inspect an asphalt roof for signs of deterioration. The most obvious perpetrator is a roof leak, indicated by water stains or wet areas in the attic. In some cases these can be patched, but in the case of a serious leak you may need to re-roof. Remember that when tracking the source of a leak, once the water has penetrated the roof it often will flow down the ceiling or framing before dripping onto the ceiling below. So evidence of a leak on the ceiling can be misleading about where it originates on the exterior of the house. If you have access to the attic, first locate the entry point of the leak from inside the house before trying to address it at the roof level.

Excessive mineral granules in the gutter can be an indication of wear on asphalt roof shingles.

Also, excessive loose mineral granules in the gutter or bare spots on the shingles are evidence that the asphalt is deteriorating. Sunlight and freeze/thaw cycles can weaken the adhesive that holds the granules to the roofing material, which will eventually require replacement or recovering. Shingles also tend to crack or curl from sun exposure, and wind can blow them off the roof.