Craze-cracking
The asphalt composition shingle roof had visible widespread random hairline cracking which was not continuous through the shingle but was limited to the upper-most layer of asphalt. This condition is called “craze cracking”. Craze-cracking is a natural response to long-term shrinkage of the shingle asphalt surface layer and is a common sign of aging. Although unsightly, this condition alone does not limit the ability of the shingles to shed water or shorten their long-term service life, and so is not a defect.
Craze cracking typically appears toward the end of the shingle warranty. Early craze cracking is a sign of poor shingle asphalt quality but is not a defect unless splits develop before the expiration of the shingle warranty period. This condition would constitute premature failure and would be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty, if the warranty is valid. Some warranties do not transfer fully at the time of sale.
I recently inspected a house built in 2001 that had similar shingles in a much worse state of deterioration, did some investigation, and found out about the manufacturing defect as others have noted above.
Though the shingles on the house you inspected appear to be in a much less advanced state of deterioration than on the house I inspected, I’d report the wear as likely to be due to a manufacturing defect, make references to the web sites noted above with pertinent info, and encourage the Client to obtain any info they can about the specific shingles and/or installation: any extra bundles left over lying around? Paperwork such as a receipt?
For the most part, CertainTeed New Horizon and maybe a very few others excepted, craze cracking is not a manufacturing defect. It is a quality issue. Homeowners expecting relief from manufacturers should be prepared to be disappointed.
Mr. Shepard is right. I live in northern Ohio and have an 8 year old Certainteed New Horizon shingle roof and there are craze cracks everywhere along with premature wearing off of granulars from the sunny side of the roof. After mailing 2 shingle samples and 81 close-up photographs, I was told by Certainteed that this was considered “normal weathering process.”
So much for 30 year shingles and paying $3700 for what you thought was a good shingle. Any ideas on what to do or what my next step should be?
Any time I have seen the Manfacture give help, it is extremly little for the life of the shingles and nothing for the labour .
Usually not worth the effort of talking to them .
Roofing companies will always point back to the installer. Who’s to say. This is becoming common. You pay for what you get, and get what you pay for. See post #5, et.al. Nice link, Kenton.