Vacuum-sealed bags for shingles? That’s a new one for me. I get the logic—keep the moisture out, maybe slow down the aging—but I’m skeptical it’d make much difference in the long run. Asphalt shingles just aren’t designed to sit around off the roof for years, no matter how you store them. The oils and binders start to break down once they’re out of the bundle, and I’ve noticed even unopened packs get brittle after a couple seasons in the garage.
I’ve tried a few things—stacking them flat, wrapping in heavy plastic, even tossing some desiccant packs in the mix. Didn’t see much improvement. Midwest humidity is brutal, but I think it’s just the nature of the material. Like you, I mostly end up using leftovers for odd jobs around the house. They make decent weed barriers under gravel, too.
Honestly, I just keep a handful for emergency patches and accept that if I need a real repair down the line, I’ll probably have to hunt for a close match anyway. Matching old shingles is a pain, but I haven’t found a magic storage trick yet.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing—no matter how careful I am, those leftover shingles just don’t age well. I tried stashing a few in my basement one year, thinking cooler temps might help, but they still got stiff and crumbly. At this point, I just keep a couple for patch jobs and figure I’ll be hunting for a close-enough match if anything big comes up. It’s frustrating, but like you said, sometimes you just have to work with what you’ve got.
That’s been my experience too—those leftover shingles just don’t hold up, no matter how you store them. I tried keeping a stack in my garage, thinking it’d be dry enough, but after a couple years they were curling at the edges and felt brittle. Ended up tossing most of them. I get why folks want to hang onto extras for patch jobs, but honestly, I’ve started looking at other options.
A couple years back, after a nasty hailstorm, I had to replace a section and couldn’t find a match for the old asphalt. That’s when I started poking around at alternatives. Ended up patching with a recycled rubber shingle—looked a little different, but it’s held up better than the original stuff and didn’t crack in the cold. Not saying it’s for everyone, but it’s worth checking out if you’re tired of the old ones falling apart.
I hear you on just making do, though. Sometimes you just have to get creative with what’s on hand, especially with the way prices are going.
I tried keeping a stack in my garage, thinking it’d be dry enough, but after a couple years they were curling at the edges and felt brittle.
That’s been my luck too. I used to keep a pile of leftover shingles in the shed, thinking I was being smart for future patch jobs. Fast forward a couple seasons—between the heat in summer and cold snaps in winter, those things turned into potato chips. Tried using one for a quick fix after a windstorm and it just snapped in half. Not worth the hassle.
I’ve also run into the matching issue after storms. Had a section blow off during a spring squall, and by the time I got around to fixing it, the manufacturer had changed the color lineup. Ended up with a patchwork look for a while. I haven’t tried rubber shingles yet, but I did experiment with some metal panels on a shed roof—definitely tougher, but they don’t blend in at all.
Honestly, regular checkups have saved me more than once. Caught a popped nail and a cracked vent boot before they turned into leaks. It’s not glamorous work, but it beats dealing with water stains on the ceiling.
Those leftover shingles are basically roof potato chips after a year or two, right? I thought I was being clever too—tucked mine under the workbench for “future emergencies” and they just got all warped and crumbly. Matching colors is its own circus, especially if your roof’s more than a couple years old. I totally agree on the checkups though. It’s not fun crawling around up there, but catching stuff early has saved me from some ugly ceiling stains more than once. Worth the hassle, even if my knees disagree.
