Missing Shingles
Roofing Repair in Boise

What You Need to Know About Missing Shingles

Have you ever wondered why you have missing shingles in your driveway? Have you ever walked out to your car and shingles for you to pick up and throw away? We know how scary that can be. There are a lot of reasons why you have missing shingles.

Missing shingles can come after a large wind storm. Even though your roof is installed correctly and, as a homeowner, you have done everything you can to prevent damage to your roof; mother nature sees it differently and forces the nails to break loose. It breaks the seals and carries the shingles away with the wind. If you have missing shingles, it is a good idea to call us to come examine your roof to see if you should file a claim with your insurance company due to wind damage. Another reason for missing shingles are installation errors. Most shingles have a strip of nails between half of an inch to an inch and a half wide, meaning you have this width designated for the nails to hit so they can hit the top layer and the bottom layer of the shingle. If you hit below or higher than the line, you are not hitting the designated multi-layer on the shingle which will cause the shingles to be apt to broken seals, gaps over time, and unnecessary holes in the shingles.

Similarly to nail placement on a shingle, the accuracy in which fasteners are installed is another important element of a good roof installation. Over-driven nails can cause breaks and tears in the shingle and sometimes go all the way through, completely defeating their purpose. Under-driven nails can cause the next course to sit up or create an air bubble in the roof – leaving it vulnerable to wind damages. Angled nails will also leave gaps for water to enter. A properly driven nail will leave the head flush to the shingles and be driven straight into the decking. This workmanship element is important not only for wind protection, but the overall aesthetics of your roof. 

And be sure to check out our blog post on How to Choose The Right Roofing Shingles