When your new roof was installed, friends and neighbors may have remarked how it enhanced the beauty of your home. However, research indicates that aging begins soon after the shingles are installed and progresses rapidly during the initial curing phase of its life cycle. During this stage, granule loss may occur, small blisters may develop or the shingles may curl slightly at their edges. You may even notice this curling is more pronounced during cold weather and the shingles may lie flat as the temperatures rise. The good news, however, is that after this curing stage the shingles enter a long period of slow aging, which lasts for the major portion of the shingles' natural life.

During the "mid-life" period, aging continues at a much slower rate. The cracking or granule loss still occurs but does not increase at a noticeable rate. Only after this long period of "mid-life" does the aging process begin to accelerate once again as the shingles enter their declining years. It's during this period that homeowners think about replacing their roofs.

Expect a natural aging process

Just as the human body ages and changes appearance over the years, so too will your roof. Due to the severity of the roof environment, even a one-year-old roof may look different from a roof that was just installed. While you may have first noticed the cracks or blistering from the ladder as you were cleaning the gutters, please be mindful that these normal weathering characteristics may not be visible when you view the roof from your front lawn or driveway. And if the problem is not sever and the shingles are still providing the protection intended, then it is not a cause for alarm.

Your roof is an important investment, since it literally protects you from the elements. While there are no magical creams or ointments to prevent your roof from aging, investing a small amount of time to examine your roof can reduce your anxiety and concerns about the normal aging conditions that affect it.

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