Why Should You Be Alarmed About Asphalt Shingle Damage

Homeowners accept the fact that their asphalt shingles will endure damage as it ages. Brand new shingles barely have any issues and will endure most heavy rain and hailstorm, especially if you use a top-tier roofing brand. However, as your roof reaches its tenth year of use, it will endure some cracks and splits across the surface, which may affect its performance and curb appeal.

Minor asphalt shingle damage doesn't usually translate to water damage or severe wood rot. But, if you leave these issues unattended, they would soon get worse and cause issues. You should be alarmed when your asphalt shingles have endured a recent rainfall after their fifth birthday and schedule a roof inspection whenever possible.

A roof maintenance service can determine your roof's condition after it endures a hurricane or severe torrential rain for more than three days or a week. They can climb and observe the roof for any visible and hidden damage. Their experience as roofers lets them determine the source of invisible roof issues quickly. Then, they can repair these issues for you in no time.

Asphalt shingle cracks and split are two different issues that most roofs face. You can learn their difference by reading Kingdom Roofing's post about it below.

The main difference between the two is that a split goes entirely through the entire asphalt shingle while cracks only affect the surface. What about creases on asphalt shingles? Creases—which are usually caused by wind damage—are considered cracks unless they go through the entire shingle.

How Cracks Form on Shingles

Cracks form on the surface of asphalt shingles when it loses volatiles (chemicals added to asphalt shingles to make them flexible and waterproof) due to evaporation, moisture, or aging. The loss of volatiles causes asphalt to shrink and eventually cause cracks to form on the surface of the shingle.

What if cracks started forming on your new roof? The usual suspects are a weak mat (the base of the asphalt shingle) or low-quality shingles. To avoid issues such as premature aging, it’s best to stick to trusted brands such as GAF®.

How Splits Form on Shingles

Your shingles expand as temperatures rise and contract as they drop. When shingles expand, the joints beneath them increase. And when they contract, the joints decrease in size. Over time, stress from repeated contractions and expansions will weaken the adhesive strips on the upper surface of the shingles, causing diagonal splits to form on the roof’s surface.

How to Prevent Cracked and Split Shingles

In addition to only using quality roofing materials, make sure to vet a roofing contractor before hiring them. To ensure your asphalt roof is installed correctly, only experienced contractors should handle their installation. (Continue reading here to learn more)

Want to repair or replace your damaged asphalt shingle roofs? You can count on Roper Roofing & Solar's professional team of experienced roofers to help you. We're a renowned roofing company with decades of experience servicing homes in Golden, CO and its surrounding areas. Call us today to get an estimate.