If you were to discover that some of the asphalt shingles on your rooftop appeared lifted or missing, then you might have spotted the effect of blow-off issues.

Typical reasons for such problems

Asphalt shingles come with wind resistance ratings. Those with a high rating can hold out in winds of 110 to 130 miles per hour. Only hurricanes and tornados could subject roofing to winds that exceeded 130 mph.

Hence, in the absence of either a hurricane of a tornado, the spotting of problems that appeared to be blow-off issues would indicate the existence of either structural deficiencies or material defects. The average homeowner should learn about the most common causes for such roofing issues, those that were not caused by exceedingly strong, blowing winds.

What are some common structural deficiencies?

Nails that are too high on the shingle: These have not been nailed into the area that runs across the nail strip. Poor positioning of nails can diminish each nail’s ability to hold down any shingle that has been nailed to the roof’s underlayment.

Too much overhang at the roof’s edge: The width of that overhang should never exceed more than ¾ of an inch. Roofing with too much of an overhang could do a poor job of guiding rainwater into the gutter. If rainwater were not directed into the gutter, it might damage the roof, or some section of the dwelling that was under that same rooftop.

What might lead to creation of a material defect on a rooftop with asphalt shingles?

The rotting or warping of the decking: The decking serves as the base for the underlayment, the surface to which the shingles get nailed. If the decking has rotted, or has started to warp, then even the best nail could fail to assure the existence of firm holds on any given shingle.

Another possible reason for the effect of defective materials could be the age of the asphalt. One significant feature of the asphalt shingle’s surface undergoes noteworthy changes, as that same surface gets older. Older shingles tend to have a decidedly weak adhesive surface.

How to avoid development of structural deficiencies or defective materials?

A good roofing contractor in San Mateo should know how to put nails across the designated strip. By the same token, a good contractor should understand the importance of checking on the width of the roof’s overhang. Naturally, a contractor’s knowledge and experience should help to guarantee the identification of any part of the roofing that needs to be fixed or replaced.

So, each homeowner should recall those facts, when hiring a contractor to work on the home’s rooftop. Potential contractors should be asked to offer evidence of their knowledge, before being hired.