Had a job last summer where the homeowner swore up and down it was “cheap shingles” causing the curling. When I checked the attic, though, it felt like a sauna in there—barely any ventilation at all. Those shingles didn’t stand a chance, even though they were only about five years old. Folks don’t realize how much that trapped heat cooks the roof from underneath. It’s wild how often the real problem’s hiding out of sight.
Had a similar situation last fall—homeowner was convinced the shingles were defective because they started curling after just a few years. When we got up there, the attic insulation was packed tight against the soffit vents, so barely any air was moving through. It’s wild how much difference proper airflow makes. Even the best shingles won’t last if the heat’s trapped underneath. Sometimes folks overlook what’s going on below the surface... literally.
That’s a classic one—folks see curling shingles and immediately think the product’s bad, but it’s usually something sneaky like blocked vents or insulation stuffed in the wrong spot. I’ve seen people spend a fortune swapping out perfectly good shingles when all they really needed was to let their roof “breathe” a bit. It’s kind of wild how much that attic airflow matters, especially in places with hot summers or big temperature swings.
I’m always surprised how many people focus on what you can see from the curb, but forget about what’s happening underneath. The “fish scales” look is cool and all, but if there’s a sauna going on below, even the fanciest shingles are gonna tap out early. Had a neighbor who kept blaming the manufacturer for his roof issues—turns out he’d packed his attic so tight with insulation you could barely find the rafters.
Honestly, sometimes it feels like half of roofing is just detective work... and a little common sense goes a long way.
- Wild how much folks overlook attic airflow. I see it all the time after storms—people want to blame the shingles, but it’s usually what’s going on underneath that’s the real culprit.
- Curling shingles? Nine times out of ten, it’s trapped heat or moisture. Had a customer last summer who was ready to rip off his whole roof after a hailstorm, but we popped our heads in the attic and… yikes, insulation everywhere, vents blocked with old boxes. Cleared it out, and things started flattening back down.
- The “fish scales” look is cool, but if your attic’s basically a hot yoga studio, even the best shingles will throw in the towel. Summer heatwaves here in Oklahoma make it worse—seen shingles literally bake from the inside out.
- People get fixated on warranties too. But most of those don’t cover issues from poor ventilation or over-insulation. Manufacturers can spot that stuff a mile away.
- Quick tip: If you’re seeing weird shingle patterns or premature wear, poke around your attic before calling for a full tear-off. Sometimes it’s as simple as moving a few things or adding a vent.
- Not saying shingle quality never matters—cheap ones do fail faster—but even the priciest ones can’t survive a “sauna attic.” It’s like putting fancy tires on a car with bad brakes.
- Funny thing: I’ve seen more storm claims get denied because of attic issues than actual wind damage. Insurance adjusters are getting wise to it too.
- At the end of the day, a little detective work saves cash and headaches. And hey, gives you an excuse to finally clean out that attic… if you can find the rafters under all the holiday decorations.
Had a similar situation last year—noticed some weird wavy spots on the north side of my roof. Thought it was just old shingles, but when I checked the attic, half the soffit vents were blocked by insulation. Cleared those out and added a couple of box vents. The difference in attic temp was wild, and the shingles actually started to settle back down after a few weeks. Never realized how much that airflow mattered until then.
