Missing Shingles?

Many homeowners have seen this kind of wind damage after a thunderstorm and have had to pick up shingles in their yard following high winds.  Why does this happen and why does it happen so often?  Self-sealing fiberglass asphalt shingles use an asphalt-based adhesive that seals the shingle to the shingle below it after it is heated by the sun in the warm summer months.  After just a few years of exposure to the suns ultra-violet rays and radiant heat,  the adhesive dry’s out and looses it’s adhesion.  If the exposed portion of the shingle is not adhered to the fastened portion of the shingle below it,  wind can easily blow the shingle off.

As shown in this picture above,  just a single tab blown off of this 3-tab asphalt shingle roof can leak.  This tab was covering the seam of two adjoining shingles below it.  This WILL leak in heavy rains.  Blown-off shingles is one of the most common problems I see out in the field and it occurs on asphalt shingle roofs in as little as five years old.

What’s the answer to this problem? First, the use of metal roofing that is entirely mechanically attached, unaffected by the sun, and does not use adhesives to seal down the material.  Second, Gerard’s unique vertical and horizontal nailing: Note that the fasteners form an X on the Canyon Shake and are nailed into the deck at an angle.  It’s this type of nailing requirement that gives Gerard’s Stone-Coated Steel roofing superior wind uplift.  Our metal roofs are also installed with vinyl-coated ring shank nails that act just like a screw.

Independent wind tunnel tests verified the Canyon Shake could withstand winds of 200 + MPH, which is no surprise if you talk to the hundreds of happy Gerard customers living in areas of the country frequented by tornados and hurricanes.  Roof damage is one of the most common, inconvenient, and expensive issues home-owners face in areas prone to wind and inclement weather. Add to this that excessive wind is usually accompanied by heavy rains, which just compounds the potential damages and repair costs. For this reason, it is no surprise that most insurance policies contain a clause excluding the roof from the general home policy, commanding a significantly higher deductible on roof specific damage.

Whether you live in Hayward, Spooner, Stone Lake, Birchwood, Rice Lake, Barron, Cumberland, Bloomer, Siren, Hudson, Menomonie, Eau Clair, Ladysmith, Minong, and most of Northwest Wisconsin,  Bjorkstrand Metal Roofing can deliver a roof that you will NEVER HAVE TO REPLACE AGAIN!

By Derrick Hansen