What’s the Difference Between Shingle Cracking and Splitting?

Asphalt shingles sustain damage over time–and you’ll usually know the cause of their deterioration by how the material looks. Are the shingles cracking, or are they splitting? To the untrained eye, it all looks the same, but shingle cracking and splitting actually has a marked difference.

The trusted roofing and seamless gutter company in the area, Deschutes Roofing, expounds on this here:

Shingle Cracking on Roofing

Asphalt shingles come with volatiles, which are chemicals with a low boiling point. They are mixed in with the asphalt to make the roofing material flexible and water-resistant. But due to evaporation, aging, or moisture, the asphalt shingles may start losing their volatiles. This causes the shingles to dry, shrink, and crack–made even worse when the material is exposed to extreme heat. 

Shingle Splitting on Roofing

Because outdoor temperatures tend to fluctuate suddenly, thermal splitting may occur on your asphalt shingles. They expand during warm temperatures (minimizing the joints between them) while in colder temperatures, they shrink (which makes the joints between them larger). This cycle of expansion and contraction allows the adhesive strips in the material to lose their effectiveness. Splitting can occur on the shingles in a diagonal pattern, or randomly.  

What You Should Do For Your Home

Both shingle cracking and splitting mean bad news for your roof because they increase the risk of leaks and wind damage. For this reason, you should promptly call a trusted roofing repairs company like Deschutes Roofing for assistance.. We’ll determine the overall condition of your roofing system through a comprehensive checkup and, based on what we find, perform the necessary solution. Homeowners in Portland, OR know to expect high-quality service from us because:

• We are licensed, bonded, insured, and certified.
• We have the necessary training, skills, and experience to ensure your shingle roof repair or replacement goes on smoothly.
• We offer a 10-year workmanship guarantee for your greater protection.

Whether you need quality seamless gutters installation, or professional shingle replacement, you can always count on Deschutes Roofing to deliver the best roofing results.

Complete client satisfaction through superior workmanship is one of our top priorities after all. Call us today at (541) 241-5720 (Bend, OR) or (503) 967-9590 (Portland, OR). You can also fill out this contact form to schedule your roof evaluation.