If your home is covered with asphalt shingles, understanding shingle cracking and splitting, as well as the difference between the two, can help you maintain the structural integrity of your roof for many years to come. In this article, residential and commercial roofers at Arrowhead Roofing provide a brief explanation of the two roofing issues.
What Is Asphalt Shingle Cracking?
Volatiles, or chemicals with a low boiling point, are added to the asphalt mix during the manufacturing of asphalt shingles in order to make them flexible and resistant to water. Over time, the shingles slowly lose these volatiles due to a number of factors, such as exposure to moisture, natural aging and evaporation. When enough volatiles are lost, the asphalt will start to dry, shrink and crack. Heat can accelerate this process, usually resulting in craze-cracking. Too much filler in the asphalt mix may also lead to random cracking in the shingles’ surface. If your roof is fairly new and is already showing signs of cracking, this may be an indication of a subpar base mat or low-quality shingles.
What Is Asphalt Shingle Splitting?
According to expert roofing contractors, thermal splitting occurs when changes in temperature cause asphalt shingles to frequently expand and contract. Since shingles tend to expand in hotter temperatures, the joints between them decrease in size. On the flip side, shingles tend to shrink in colder temperatures, causing the joints to increase in size. The bridging shingles also experience excessive strain when the bonded-shingle assemblies wrinkle and contract. In the end, too much stress can compromise the effectiveness of the adhesive strips, which ultimately causes the shingles to split. This can easily lead to leaks and poor wind resistance. Splitting normally appears in a diagonal pattern or randomly across the roof.
Arrowhead Roofing is one of the leading full-service residential and commercial roofing contractors in Oklahoma. You can count on our installers to deliver industry-leading products and excellent workmanship — on budget and on time. For a free estimate or inspection, give us a call at (918) 509-3624 or fill out our contact form.
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