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• Asphalt roof shingle curling photographs & explanation
• Types & photographs of organic felt asphalt roof shingle defects & failures

This website describes shingle curling as a sign of wear on asphalt shingle roofs and discusses how to identify & explain the most-common asphalt roof shingle failures. These shingle curling defects occur on organic-mat or fiberglass-mat asphalt roof shingles. Readers are also invited contribute roof failure information to the web author for research purposes. web author for research purposes. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

Curling Asphalt Shingle Explanation & Photos

Curling roof shingles (as shown here) will show a curling-under at the edges of the shingle tab, first at the lower edge and sometimes also at the two sides of the shingle tab. The page top photograph of curled roof shingles shows a worn-out roof that needs replacement as soon as possible. Making the distinction between "curled" roof shingles as shown on this page and "cupped" roof shingles as shown on the previous page may be a bit of a nuance of mostly academic interest since both conditions are signs of an older, worn roof. But I've found that stepping on and breaking the edge of a curled roof shingle might cause less damage than that caused by walking on a cupped shingle roof where larger pieces of shingle break off under the feet of a thoughtless "roof inspector". In fact I've seen a "failed" roof that was not leaking until the fellow who was asked to inspect it walked across this fragile surface. From a ladder at the roof edge one could clearly see the virtual footprints of broken shingle edges where the "inspector" had walked. It's best to stay off fragile roof surfaces to avoid converting a "near end of life" condtion to a "failed, leaking" condition. Curling and cupping may occur together on the same roof, or shingles may appear to be curled-only (or fishmouth-curled-only as you'll read next). We don't see cupping without some curling.

As I advised about cupped roof shingles, when inspecting a a curled-shingle roof I would also be careful to stay off of it, particularly in cold weather since as with cupped or fishmouthed shingles they are more likely to break when stiff and cold. And as we said earlier, if you have to walk on such a roof, move carefully, avoiding stepping on the raised or cupped shingle sections.

It is rare that it's cost justified to repair a badly curled-shingle roof, but if it's absolutely necessary, perhaps as a stopgap measure while waiting for a whole new roof, when making curled shingle roofr repairs, either work from adjacent surfaces which are in better condition, work your way down the roof from damaged areas back to the ladder, or prop a ladder up off of the roof surface and work from that scaffold as is sometimes done with slate or other fragile roof surface repairs.

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Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material. Content suggestions, technical corrections and content critique are invited for any of the content at our website.

• Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. (727) 595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
• Hankey and Brown home inspectors, Eden Prairie, MN, technical review by Roger Hankey, prior chairman, Standards Committee, American Society of Home Inspectors - ASHI. 952 829-0044 - hankeyandbrown.com
• Arlene Puentes, a licensed home inspector, educator, and building failures researcher in Kingston, NY.
• Daniel Friedman - principal author
• Technical reviewers are invited to comment or ask questions - contact us

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