Curling shingles confuse homeowner
Q: I’ve noticed that the edges of my roof shingles are curling. This comes as a total surprise because the shingles are only 5 years old. How could they be wearing out so soon? — Shane A: There are two likely causes for premature curling of the shingles. The first of these is substandard manufacture of the material. If you can determine the name of the manufacturer, check online to see if your shingles are subject to a product recall.
Another common cause for curling is excessive heat exposure. Overheating can occur in hot climates when there is insufficient venting of the attic. When ventilation is inadequate, an attic can become very hot during summer months, causing asphalt shingles to become dry and brittle after several years of exposure.
Code requirements for attic venting are minimal at best, and municipal building inspectors have the discretionary power to waive these requirements when a home is constructed.
The vent openings in your attic should be inspected. These are typically found at the gables, the eaves, or on the roof itself. To ensure that they are clear of obstruction, look for visible light inside the attic. Eave vents often become blocked with insulation, and low clearance within the attic can restrict your ability to clear them.
If additional vents are needed, they are not difficult to install. An effective way to meet and exceed current ventilation requirements is to install turbine vents or ridge vents. For further details and specific evaluation of your roof situation, contact a qualified licensed roofing contractor. Q: My home was built in 1955 and has old plumbing, but the water pressure in my home is 60 pounds per square inch. This should be more than sufficient for normal use, but something is wrong. If someone flushes a toilet or turns on the washing machine while the shower is running, the shower flow is reduced to a dribble. How can 60 pounds of pressure not be sufficient? — Jonathan A: People often assume that the water volume at faucets is entirely a function of the pressure. In fact, volume has more to do with the internal size of the pipes because the amount of water that can pass through a pipe is limited by its size, regardless of pressure.
Reduced water volume is a common condition in older houses with galvanized-steel water pipes. When your home was new, the pipes were probably large enough to provide sufficient volume at the fixtures, and the shower most likely worked well, even when the toilet was flushed. Old steel pipes often have a thick layer of rust on the interior surfaces. A pipe that originally had an inside diameter of half an inch may only be one-fourth of an inch now, and this reduces the amount of water that can flow through that pipe. If the line to the shower is more heavily rusted than the pipes to other fixtures, the showerhead may dribble when other fixtures are being used.
The solution is to replace the old pipes with copper or PEX. Unfortunately, re-piping can be very costly and disruptive. To determine whether this is actually necessary, have the water supply system evaluated by a licensed plumber.