Should roof shingles lift up?
The new roof exception
Sealant strips are activated by sun and warmth. Shingles installed in a cool stretch of a Georgia winter may not fully bond for days or weeks, and a few tabs can lift in wind until warm weather arrives. Manufacturers call for hand sealing with dabs of approved roofing cement in cold or windy conditions. By the first warm, sunny spell, a new roof should be sealed down.
Why an older shingle lifts
- Wind broke the seal. Gusts get under a tab, peel it back, and drop it. Look for a straight crease line across the shingle, often just below the sealant strip. A creased shingle has lost much of its strength even if it lies flat again.
- It never sealed. Dust, pollen or cold at installation kept the strip from bonding.
- High nailing. Nails above the nailing line leave the lower shingle loose, so the whole course moves.
- Age. As asphalt dries out in Georgia heat, the bond weakens and the tabs curl.
What to do
Do not pry shingles up to test them, especially in cold weather when they crack. If tabs are flapping, or you find creased or missing shingles after a storm, have the roof inspected. Unsealed shingles that are still intact can be hand sealed. Creased or torn ones should be replaced. Several lifted tabs on the same slope after a windstorm can point to storm damage that may be covered by insurance, see wind damage roof claims.
More on how storms work on shingles in wind damage to roofs in Georgia, and other warning signs in signs you need a new roof.