Did you know that, on average, your roof shingles need to be replaced every 20 years? If you live in an area that suffers from a lot of rain, wind, and hail, you may need to cut that time in half and replace your missing shingles as soon as possible.
Many homeowners are unaware of the state of their roof shingles, especially if they have recently bought the property. The previous owner may not have disclosed the last time they replaced the shingles, and then it becomes your job to get it done.
If your roof I on the older side, you should keep an eye for any missing shingles to protect your home from damages. Otherwise, you may face some expensive bills if you do not stay on top of this maintenance.
Here is everything you need to know about what to expect with damaged or missing shingles, and how to replace individual ones yourself to avoid forking out a lot of money for repairs.
Why Repair Missing Shingles?
As soon as you spot missing shingles, you must replace them immediately to prevent water from leaking into your home. Otherwise, you can expect a mini tsunami all over your bedrooms the next time it rains heavily.
This is necessary, because even the slightest water leak in your home can cause a lot of problems. Imagine walking into your humble abode one day, only to see mold growing all over your walls and furniture.
Then you would need to spend a lot of money to clean everything and restore your property to its original form. It is never fun dealing with serious roofing problems unless you are sitting on a treasure chest full of money.
Can you replace individual shingles? The answer is yes. However, it is always worth calling a professional to tackle shingles missing on roof because they have the expertise to conduct thorough maintenance to ensure your home does not suffer from any further damage.
1. Can Missing Shingles Cause a Leak?
Think of your roof shingles as a protective armor between your property and weather elements. It is always beneficial to have this added layer of protection, like wearing a raincoat when it pours.
If all your shingles are in place, they can flush all the rainwater down against your roofline. This way, all the moisture and water slide off with ease, instead of collecting on your roof and seeping into the property.
If you have missing shingles or damaged ones, all the water will then pour through your roofing materials that stay under the shingles.
Sturdy shingles have a decent waterproof membrane beneath them that reduces water seeping through. However, this does not eliminate leaks entirely.
The more missing shingles you have, the more likely you will experience leaks in your roof. Then you can expect to sit on your couch one day only to see that it is completely wet with more water droplets falling from above.
The best thing to do is to get your roof inspected by a professional company. This should be done at least twice a year if you want to keep your property in top shape without random roof leaks.
Then you minimize damages by tackling repairs early on, before they become more expensive. Your family will also be grateful for not having to deal with leaks again, since your shingles will be fixed regularly.
2. Energy Bills
It is no secret that a good and strong roof can help keep energy bills low every month. This is because your roof reflects the sun’s powerful UV rays and keeps this harmfulness away from you and your loved ones.
Then you will not have excess heat in your attic space, so you can stop using the aircon as much to cool your house down. This is where shingles missing on the roof become a significant problem.
If you do not replace those that are damaged, you can expect the harsh sun to microwave your attic and upper floors within minutes. When this happens, the HVAC system powering your home can kick into overdrive to keep up with the thermostat setting.
This will push the system to work harder. Therefore, your energy bills for that month will seem much higher than usual. Instead of cutting back on things you love to save money, all you must do is repair or replace any missing shingles on your roof to prevent damage and excess energy bills.
3. Property Value
When people are driving past and admiring your home, the first thing they will notice is the condition of your roof. If your roof is in perfect condition, it will boost your property’s value, because it increases the drive-up curb appeal just from a glance.
People who have an interest in buying your property will not want to acquire expensive repairs and expense themselves. If your roof has shingles that are obviously missing or destroyed, this will ruin people’s impression of your home, and your property value can drop like a brick.
It does not matter if you have created a fairytale wonderland for a garden and have an Olympic-sized swimming pool to impress.
A damaged roof will still turn people away, because it is expensive to fund repairs if they have not been tended to in time.
To ensure that buyers feel confident that your home is in its best condition, you should hire a professional service to examine all your missing shingles.
Otherwise, you will struggle to sell the home, since buyers would be discouraged from putting any money down in the first place. To get your asking price during a sale, it never hurts to fix broken or missing shingles to boost your home’s sale value.
4. Excess Moisture
Each time you have a missing or damaged shingle, you risk a lot of moisture penetrating your upper floors or attic. When this happens, the moisture ends up sitting there, while mold and mildew start growing all over the place.
The longer you allow the moisture to collect, the more you will spend replacing everything that is covered in mold. It is necessary to avoid the presence of mold in any part of your home.
This is because mold has numerous health risks and can cause a lot of breathing problems. An experienced professional can come and help you get rid of all the mold around your walls and furniture.
However, you can expect to fork out a fair bit of money, since you will need to replace all the insulation in your attic or upper floor.
Moisture damage is expensive to deal with, which is why it is always worth keeping your roof shingles in top condition. The moment you see that one is missing, you should try to replace it immediately before the next time it rains.
5. Structural Damage
A leaking roof and mold in the attic are not the only problems caused by missing shingles. If enough moisture seeps into your home through the roof and walls, you may be looking at significant structural damage.
This is very serious and can cause a lot of damage throughout the entire property. Then you can only imagine how expensive it will be if you need to get repairs done in every room, as opposed to replacing a few shingles missing from the roof.
All the water can leak through the roof into your sheetrock. This can pool around your property’s foundation and jeopardize your electrical wiring. To always keep yourself and your family members safe, you should never neglect a missing or broken shingle.
6. Unwanted Pests
A missing roof shingle may not seem like a big deal, but it can increase the risk of pest infestations. This is because missing shingles form easy access for water to collect.
The water then weakens your roof’s structure in ways where it does not cover your home anymore. Therefore, insects during warm weather can fly in with ease and annoy everyone living in the house.
By hiring a roofing expert, you lower your chances of swatting insects while trying to get a good night’s sleep.
What Does a Missing Shingle Look Like?
One of the most obvious ways of finding a missing shingle is if you find it on your lawn or driveway after a storm. If you take a few steps away from your home, you may be able to see bare spots on the roof from where you are standing.
However, it is always best to get a thorough roof inspection from a professional company, because they can spot all your damaged and missing shingles to replace them immediately if you do not have time for the job.
Can You Replace Individual Shingles?
You can replace a damaged shingle entirely or cut it into sections to repair a single tab. This will involve using a flat bar to pry the damaged shingle, because you need to get rid of the nails.
Many homeowners can quickly learn how to repair or cover missing shingles, but there is always a risk of damaging the roof or other shingles if you are not careful.
To be on the safe side, you should call a roofing expert, especially since some leaks may not occur immediately.
Protect Your Home Today
Now that you know what to expect if you have missing shingles, you should understand that there is no time to waste. Early detection is the best way to deal with this problem, because then you will not have to pay expensive repair and energy bills later.
You must also try to get into the habit of walking around your property once a month to examine the roof. This is where you should note any damaged or missing shingles for when your roofer comes for an inspection.
Give us a call today, and we can guarantee that your roof damage gets repaired immediately, without costing you a great deal.
