Bald Spots On Your Roof Shingles
Being a responsible homeowner means keeping up with maintenance and ensuring that everything is kept in great condition. When it comes to your roof, this may mean arranging for a roof replacement as soon as you see some damage issues. One such issue involves bald spots on the roof. Keep reading to learn more about this problem and when exactly you should contact a residential roofing professional.
Bald Spots On The Roof
The term "bald spot" does not refer to a missing shingle. It means that the asphalt shingles have lost some or all of their granules. And, these granules are likely to wear away in sections across the structure of the roof, creating a patchy appearance.
Asphalt shingle granules are small and round minerals with a shiny appearance. They give the shingles a distinctive look, and more importantly, they reflect the sun's rays away from the roof. This helps to prevent heat transfer to your attic space and it also allows each shingle to maintain a solid and moist internal structure.
Granules are baked onto the surface of each shingle and they will come loose due to weather exposure. They can also loosen as shingles start to curl or bend. And, some bald spots are the direct result of roof pressure during an inspection. In other words, walking on the roof can cause the granules to break free.
When Should You Replace The Roof?
There are some situations where roofing shingles are faulty, causing the granules to fall off before they should. If your roof has been replaced within the last 5 to 10 years, then the shingles may be under warranty. Check with your roofer or the manufacturer to see if this is the case. You can often have the shingles replaced quickly and free of cost to you.
If the shingles are old and are wearing simply due to age, then you should consider the overall structure of the roof and if other signs of damage are apparent. Cracks, curled edges, rips, and missing shingles are all signs that you need a replacement as soon as possible.
If shingles are just starting to lose granules, but otherwise look as though they are in good shape, then you can probably wait another year or two for the replacement. However, you should know that without the granules, the shingles will often deteriorate more quickly. This is due to direct UV and weather damage.
If you want to know more about bald shingles and how to determine whether or not a roof replacement is needed, speak with a residential roofing professional.