Reasons Why Your New Roof Shingles Are Not Lying Flat

You won’t have to be concerned about your shingle’s functionality for years if you recently installed new ones. However, if your new roof shingles are not lying flat as they should, that’s a cause for alarm because moisture can gain entry into your home, making it exposed to damage. When your roof is exposed to water, it leads to damage, reducing its effectiveness and lifespan. If you detect that your shingles aren’t lying flat, finding the cause is quite critical.

Is It Okay for New Shingles to Not Lie Flat?

New shingles not lying flat is not okay in any way. It is an actual problem. When you install new shingles, anyone would expect them to stay flat, adhering to your roof’s sheathing and underlayment. If you observe a swell in your new shingles, don’t treat it with levity. Contact a skilled roofing contractor to assess your roof, detect the problem, and provide an effective solution.

Installing a new roof is not exactly cheap, regardless of the roofing material of your choice. Hence, it is a significant investment that requires you to promptly attend to it to prevent damage, including leaks and rot. In addition to causing damage, bumpy shingles make your curb less appealing, lowering its resale value.

Reasons Why Your New Roof Shingles Are Not Lying Flat 

Improperly done installation

The most likely reason for a roof not lying flat is incorrect installation. When an installer doesn’t install your shingles the correct way, you may notice an unevenness due to the shingles not resting flat on the roof deck. This occurrence is likely to happen when your installer is inexperienced or unskilled. For this reason, hiring an expert with an impressive track record for your roof installation or repair is vital.

Distorted Shingles Due to Poor Handling

Manufacturers of roofing shingles usually distribute them in pre-packaged bundles. In the process of transporting them, there could be some mishandling, which could lead to distortion or flaws in the shingles. When you install such defective shingles, they remain bumpy, retaining the deformed shape. This inconsistency in the shingles form influences its ability to flatten to your roof deck.

Installation of Shingles During Unfavorable Weather conditions

If your shingles are installed in unfavorable weather conditions, it may cause them not to lie flat. There is a sealant that installers use to bind asphalt shingles to the roof deck; in warm weather conditions, the sealant sticks quickly and is strong. The strong bond makes the shingles a waterproof obstacle on your roof. However, suppose the installation of the shingles occurs in cold or wet weather. In that case, the sealant may not bind or stick properly, resulting in uneven shingles. The best time to install shingles is usually during the months of spring and summer.

Warped Underlayment and Structural Problems

When your roof underlayment is not smooth, it could result in warping. There are different types of roof underlayment, and they all serve as a protective border between the deck and roofing shingles. But if you use an uneven underlayment for your roof installation, your shingles may not lie flat. They will be flat in some spots and bumpy in others, causing an irregular roof surface.

The possible reasons for underlayment warping are moisture problems on the roof deck and installation during strong winds. Although this does not happen often, installers should straighten the underlayment before installing the roof.

Installing New Shingles Over New Ones

Installing new shingles over old ones is another common reason why shingles have irregular surfaces. Placing new shingles over old ones will make lying flat hard for the new ones because it causes an irregular surface. There are cases where the old shingles are buckled, which impacts the new ones installed over them, causing them to buckle, too. Aside from reducing the chances of your shingles lying flat, removing old shingles before installing new ones will help you detect underlying problems like water damage or wood rot.

Improperly Driven Nails 

Experts recommend that installers drive nails properly during the installation of shingles. Driven nails should be tight enough to avoid harming the shingles. High nails can make the surface of roofing shingles appear wavy and uneven due to the nails beneath lifting the shingles. Improperly driven nails result from hiring an unskilled contractor who does a poor installation job.

Inadequate Attic and Roof Installation

The role of adequate roof and attic ventilation in your roof’s health can not be overemphasized. It ensures that your roofing system functions appropriately. When your roof or attic lacks proper ventilation, it causes moisture buildup, leading to more damage. Over time, your shingles become weak and flexible due to the hot and moist air not being trapped. When this happens, your shingles begin to curl instead of lying flat. Furthermore, lack of adequate ventilation can also make your roof deck absorb moisture and start to rot, weakening the structure of your roofing system.

Irregular or Ruined Roof Sheathing

When your roof decking or sheathing isn’t level, your shingles will definitely not lie flat. Instead, it will have a bumpy appearance and, in some cases, lift, giving room for water to access them. When moisture gains entry into your roofing system, it could damage the sheathing, making it challenging for the wooden planks to support the shingles’ weight and weaken the roof’s structure. And when this happens, the shingles won’t lie flat.

Your Local Weather Conditions

When choosing roofing shingles for your projects, we recommend getting the ones designed for your local climate and can withstand the conditions. This is because your local climate and weather conditions significantly influence your asphalt shingles performance.

Some shingles may contract and crack in locations with cold climes, while those in dry and hot climes are quick to expand and lift. Additionally, high winds can make the nails pinning the shingles down loose, causing them to lift. They also become heavy and unstable when exposed to moisture from heavy snow and rainfall.

Suppose your new shingles aren’t lying flat as a result of wet or cold weather conditions. In that case, there is a possibility of it lying flat when you transition into months of warm weather.

How Long Does It Take For Asphalt Shingles To Seal?

The duration it takes asphalt shingles to seal varies, depending on different factors. This duration is called the thermal sealing process. The process typically takes a couple of days to weeks to fully complete.

In the process of sealing, asphalt shingles stick to the roof deck as they are open to sunlight and high temperatures. This exposure helps them to achieve a secure, water-resistant seal that keeps your home secure and safe from leaks and other elements.

What Do You Do When Your New Roof Isn’t Lying Flat?

Before deciding on an approach to resolve your roof problem,  ensure that you determine the cause. In case your new shingles are not lying flat, you can do one of the following:

• Wait for the sun to correct it: As mentioned earlier in this guide, new shingles may need some time to stick and lie flat. The time you have to wait for could span from weeks to months. So, you have to wait for that period for the sun to heat and seal your shingles, causing them to lie flat. But if your shingles don’t lie flat after about a month or more, you have to call a professional to intervene.

• Replace the distorted shingles: If you detect that your new shingles are not lying flat owing to distortion, replace the defective parts with new ones. Carefully remove the impacted shingles and install new ones in their place. However, you should avoid walking on a new roof, as it could damage the shingles. Therefore, we highly recommend hiring professional roofing contractors to correct your bumpy roof situation.

• Nail the shingles properly: Properly nailing the shingles in position can resolve the issue, provided that is the cause of the irregularity of the roof surface. Typically, manufacturers provide a guide for the proper nailing techniques. Without adhering to these instructions, the winds might blow the shingles off, or the nails may come off.

Conclusion 

There are many reasons why your shingles may not lie flat. If your shingles are bumpy, make sure you fix them as soon as soon as possible to avoid encountering further problems. Hiring an expert roofing contractor to assess your situation before things spiral out of hand is vital.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for roof shingles to settle?

The time it takes for asphalt shingles to settle varies. In warm weather, they settle faster, as fast as within hours. However, it could take about a whole day, a couple of weeks, or even months to be securely sealed in cold or moist weather conditions.

Are new shingles supposed to lift?

No, they aren’t. Shingles should be able to resist high winds. But in cases where the shingles are old, or the installer does not install them properly, the wind will make them “lift.”