Asphalt shingle damage can leave your roof vulnerable to more extensive damage. If gaps form between shingles or parts of the roof are left exposed to the elements, water can leak down into the wooden parts of the roof. If this happens, your roof is susceptible to rot, pest infestations, and structural weakness. Unfortunately, you can't always evaluate the health of your asphalt roof simply by looking for shingle damage. For this reason, you should schedule periodic roof evaluations with a roofing professional who can look for these specific warning signs.