As the owner of a home with asphalt shingle roofing, it's important to recognize the signs that your home's roof needs attention. When it comes to asphalt shingles, the good news is that the shingles can give you some pretty clear signs when it's time to call a roofing contractor. Here's a look at some of the things you need to know about the ways that your asphalt shingle roof shows damage.

Granule Loss

Your asphalt shingles are covered in a top layer of granules that are designed as a protective coating. These granules help to protect the shingles from damage caused by direct sun rays and other issues. As your asphalt shingles age, those granules will wear off. If you look up at your roof and you see some shingles that still look normal, but others have sort of shiny spots, that's a sign that some of your shingles are losing granules. When that starts happening, you're running the risk of further damage to the shingles and the potential for roof leaks if you don't have it addressed.

Curling Shingles

When you look up at your roof, do all of your shingles lay flat like they did when they were installed? Do any of the shingles look like the corners are curling up? Curling shingles can be a sign of roof aging, but can also happen if the shingles weren't properly installed or have suffered from water damage. Any time you see curling in your shingles, you should call a roofing contractor because those curled corners create vulnerable spots for water penetration, and they increase the risk of high winds blowing those shingles off the roof. 

Moss Growth

If your black shingle roof is developing spots of green, that's a sign that there's moss growth on your roof. Usually, this happens because the roof isn't ventilated adequately enough, and leaves and other debris have been left to sit on the shingles and retain moisture. As moss starts growing on the shingles, it will cause those shingles to deteriorate, potentially leading to roofing leaks and other costly repairs. 

Routine roof cleaning is a good way to prevent this, but you should reach out to a roofing contractor for help ahead of time. Sometimes, cleaning the roof yourself can void your roofing shingle warranty, so you need to be sure that you talk with a professional first.

These are some of the most common issues you might encounter if you have a home with shingle roofing. Talk with a roofing contractor to learn more about roof inspections. 

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