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Shingles curling or cracking?

Curling edges and surface cracks mean the asphalt has dried out and lost flexibility. Caught early, preservation can slow it. Caught late, it can’t.

Roof-life assessment

What you’re seeing

  • Cupping: Shingle edges turning upward
  • Clawing: Shingle middles lifting while the edges stay down
  • Surface cracks: Fine cracks across the shingle face, often worst on sun-facing slopes

What causes it

UV and heat break down the oils in asphalt. As the shingle dries, it shrinks and stiffens, and freeze-thaw cycles and poor attic ventilation make it worse.

See the seven-stage aging loop

Up close

Fine surface cracks spread as the asphalt dries out. They let water in, and freeze-thaw widens them every winter.

Can preservation help?

Repair first, then preserve

Mild curling or fine surface cracking on an otherwise sound roof can usually be secured and repaired in the tune-up, then preserved. Widespread curling, split shingles or brittle shingles that break when lifted are signs the roof is near the end of its life.

  1. Look at the worst slopeSun-facing slopes show it first
  2. Check the atticPoor ventilation bakes shingles from below
  3. Roof-life assessmentA dealer checks flexibility and decides if it’s a candidate