What is the difference between splitting and cracking from age?

Thermal splits are clean and straight, often following the butt joints of the course below. Age cracking comes with curling, brittleness and heavy granule loss across the whole roof. They often end in the same place, which is replacement, but the first can sometimes be a warranty claim.

Can split shingles be repaired?

Individual splits can be sealed or the shingle replaced if the line is still available and the color can be matched. Widespread splitting is not economically repairable.

Is splitting covered by insurance?

Generally not, because it is not sudden accidental damage. Wind creasing from a specific storm can be, which is why the distinction between a split and a crease matters on a claim.

Cracked or Split Shingles in Texas | Causes and What to Do

The short answer

Straight vertical or horizontal splits in shingles are thermal splitting, which is distinct from age-related curling and from wind creasing. It is driven by large temperature swings and in some cases by the product itself. The useful test: wind creasing shows granule loss along the fold line from repeated bending, while a thermal split does not.

What causes it

Cause	How you can tell	How common
Thermal splitting	Clean straight splits, no granule loss along the line	Product and climate
Wind creasing	Fold line with granule loss along it	Storm related
Age embrittlement	Cracking with curling and widespread granule loss	End of life
Foot traffic in cold	Cracks in a path, worse if walked on in cold weather	Mechanical
Product defect	Widespread splitting on a relatively young roof	Possible warranty claim

How fast do you need to act

Not an emergency, but each split is a water path. Worth an inspection this season, and worth identifying the shingle brand and age if splitting is widespread on a young roof, because that is a manufacturer conversation.

What to do right now

Photograph the splits close up and note whether granules are missing along the line
Find the roof's age and the shingle brand from your closing documents or the installer
Check whether splitting is isolated or across the whole roof
Do not walk the roof in cold weather, which makes cracking worse
If the roof is young and splitting is widespread, raise it with the manufacturer before replacing

What we see in the Hill Country

The daily temperature swing in the Hill Country is hard on asphalt, and we see splitting most on roofs that also have poor attic ventilation, where the shingle is being worked from both sides. On an older roof splitting usually means it is time. On a roof under ten years old it is worth investigating as a product question before anyone sells a replacement.

When to call us

We inspect for this at no charge across Boerne, San Antonio, New Braunfels, Kerrville, Fair Oaks Ranch, Bulverde, Helotes, Spring Branch, Austin and Stone Oak. You get photographs of what we find and a written explanation, including when the honest answer is that nothing needs doing yet. Call (210) 245-4125 or book an inspection.

Cracked or Split Shingles