Thread: Odd Wear Section on Asphalt Roof

Hi all,
As I'm currently a student of home inspection, forgive my ignorance if this is an obvious query. I took this pic while researching local roofing defects.

The photo shows a south facing gable roof with a wear pattern on one side only, between the rake and dormer. There is an antennae set against the gable end from the ground to about 15' above the roof. My conclusion is that water has been dripping off the antennae for many years, prematurely aging the asphalt shingles directly below.

Is my conclusion correct? Is there more to it?

Thanks for comments,
Jim

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Originally Posted by Jim B. Robinson

Hi all,
As I'm currently a student of home inspection, forgive my ignorance if this is an obvious query. I took this pic while researching local roofing defects.

The photo shows a south facing gable roof with a wear pattern on one side only, between the rake and dormer. There is an antennae set against the gable end from the ground to about 15' above the roof. My conclusion is that water has been dripping off the antennae for many years, prematurely aging the asphalt shingles directly below.

Is my conclusion correct? Is there more to it?

Thanks for comments,
Jim

Jim,

In my opinion, not obvious. I have never seen wear like that.

I am afraid that I do not have a good answer for you, but your guess seems reasonable. One qualifying remark though, as an HI, we do not need to diagnose the cause, just note the condition and refer to a roofing contractor.

Strange, but how about ice and snow falling off the very high antennae?

Jim,

My Guesses (* see Gunner's Post for the correct answer )

1. That Section of roof exhibiting wear was not replaced during the previous re roofing.

2. What I suspect is the TV Antenna does not have ( or is broken ) a motorized directional feature.

Over the years after each strong wind has misaligned the TV Antenna, someone has scaled that side of the roof ( accessed from the ground by ladder )with an adjustment tool ( long pole ) and whacked it back into alignment ( utilizing The Is It There Yet Martha ) method.
.

That was my guess too. even though the antennae has rungs on it. Mabey the guy had big feet.
Go back to the house and look at the gtter below the area for ladder marks. There should be alot of them if the cause is walking on the roof.
If you hear a click cock, RUN!

Quite possibly a case of the dreaded NRB.

I'm thinking no ventilation on that one or two rafter bays.

Or maybe a contained fire below in that confined area.

Looks like heat, so my first guess would be the no ventilation cause.

Of course, without being there, all we can do it "guess".

Jim,

Being originally from Ontario myself (Kitchener-Waterloo), I immediately looked to see if the driveway was on that side of the house, thinking hockey puck damage.....but no. Maybe a few bad bundles of shingles off a partial pallet? Any idea how old the roof is?

Please send me down some Sleeman's Dark!!!!

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

I'm thinking no ventilation on that one or two rafter bays.

Or maybe a contained fire below in that confined area.

Looks like heat, so my first guess would be the no ventilation cause.

Of course, without being there, all we can do it "guess".

That was my thought but I see 2 dormers on the front and I believe I see a shed dormer on the rear. I seriously doubt that that roof has any ventilation.

Originally Posted by Ted Menelly

That was my thought but I see 2 dormers on the front and I believe I see a shed dormer on the rear. I seriously doubt that that roof has any ventilation.

Yeah, I saw all that stuff, but I still think that is the problem. Either that or the other thing I mentioned ...

Or maybe a contained fire below in that confined area.

Looks like heat, so my first guess would be the no ventilation cause.

Thanks for your insight!

I am aware of the SOP (ASHI), but my curious nature must be quenched. That and I think it's important to know causes, whether we report it or not.

As far as the other ideas mentioned, they all seem valid, though I lean towards the falling ice & snow off the antennae (actually thought of that after I posted), bad batch of shingles or ventilation issue. No idea on age of roof as I only got as close as the side of the road.

As I walked the neighbourhood (very tiny dot on the map really) this morning I noticed yet another roof with the same circumstance though not quite as damaged, but this was a west facing slope and a much smaller area. Seems like an strange place for a standard roof vent also.

Cheers Brent!

A bunch of ham operators in that area by the looks of those towers.

Does everyone in your neighborhood have those godawful antennas?

Originally Posted by Gunnar Alquist

Does everyone in your neighborhood have those godawful antennas?

Hey Gunnar,
It does appear that way, doesn't it? And in fact we used to have one, but ripped it down a year after we moved in.

The initial pic though is near London, about a 15min drive from my place.

Jim

My 2 centavos: Incontinent birds perching on the antenna?