I did notice some soft spots near the flashing last time—felt a little squishy underfoot, which can’t be good.
If it’s squishy, there’s a good chance water’s been getting in for a while—usually means the plywood’s started to rot. In my experience, flashing is often the culprit, especially if it’s rusted or bent. I’ve tried just sealing it before, but that only bought me a few months. Once it’s compromised, replacement’s the way to go. Michigan winters don’t do us any favors either... ice dams love bad flashing. I’d pull up a couple shingles and check underneath before deciding how much to tear out.
Spot on about the flashing—once it’s gone, patching just delays the inevitable. I’ve seen a few roofs where folks tried caulk or tar, but the rot always crept in underneath. Around here, especially with that freeze/thaw cycle, water finds every little gap. If you’re seeing soft spots, odds are the underlayment’s shot too. I usually recommend checking the attic side if you can; sometimes you’ll spot staining or even mold before it gets worse. It’s a pain, but catching it early can save a lot of money... and headaches.
That attic tip is a good one. I found out the hard way how sneaky water can be—thought I was being clever just patching a couple of spots on the outside, but a few months later, I noticed a weird musty smell upstairs. Sure enough, there was a little patch of mold starting in the attic right above where I’d “fixed” the leak. Ended up having to replace a chunk of insulation and a couple of boards. Not fun, but lesson learned.
I’m still figuring out what’s normal wear and what’s a real problem. My house is only about 15 years old, but the shingles are already curling up on the edges in a few places. Is that just age, or could it be from bad ventilation? I’ve heard that can make roofs age faster, but I’m not totally sure what to look for. Anyone else notice their shingles curling before the 20-year mark?
Shingles curling before 20 years? Yeah, I’ve been there. My place is pushing 18 and I started seeing those corners flipping up like potato chips a few years back. Thought maybe it was just our wild wind, but turns out attic ventilation (or lack of it) can really speed that up. I crawled up there one summer and it felt like a sauna—pretty sure the shingles were baking from underneath.
I’m not totally convinced it’s just age, especially if you’re spotting it in random spots instead of all over. For me, the worst curling was right above where some insulation had slid away from the eaves, so hot air wasn’t escaping right. Once I added a couple more vents and fixed the insulation, things seemed to slow down. Still, shingles never un-curl themselves... wishful thinking on my part.
Honestly, roofing companies love to blame “normal wear,” but I think a lot depends on how well your attic breathes and how much sun your roof gets. Not exactly cheap to fix, but better than dealing with leaks in the long run.
Fish scales is a good way to put it—those layers are supposed to keep water out, but once they start curling, it’s like leaving the window cracked in a rainstorm. I’ve seen folks blame storms or cheap shingles, but honestly, poor attic airflow is the silent killer. If your attic’s cooking in summer, those shingles don’t stand a chance. I always tell people: check the vents before you blame the weather or the shingle brand. Sometimes it’s just a hot attic turning your roof into a potato chip factory.
