Creased Shingle
A shingle with a visible fold line or crease caused by wind lifting the shingle and bending it backward, or by improper handling during installation. A creased shingle has compromised structural integrity even if it lays flat again.
What Is a Creased Shingle
A creased shingle is one that has been bent or folded by wind force to the point where a visible crease line runs across the shingle surface, breaking or weakening the internal fiberglass mat and creating a permanent structural failure point. Unlike a shingle that was merely lifted and resealed, a creased shingle has been damaged beyond its ability to recover. The fiberglass reinforcement mat inside the shingle fractures along the fold line, and no amount of adhesive or sealant can restore the original strength.
Identifying Creased Shingles
Creased shingles may not be obvious from the ground because they can lay relatively flat after the wind subsides. On the roof, run your hand across the shingle surface to feel for fold lines. A crease typically runs horizontally across the shingle tab. You can sometimes see the line as a slight shadow or a color variation where the granules shifted along the fold. The crease may also cause a slight ridge or depression visible when looking across the roof plane at a low angle.
Creased Shingles in Claims
Each creased shingle should be documented individually with a photograph showing the fold line. Mark the location on the roof diagram. Adjusters sometimes argue that a shingle that lays flat is undamaged. The counter-argument is that the fiberglass mat is fractured along the crease, the shingle seal line is compromised at the crease point, and the crease will become a leak point and a future blow-off point. The shingle's functional integrity is compromised regardless of its current appearance.
Frequently asked questions
A creased shingle has a visible fold line where the shingle was bent backward by wind or other force. The crease breaks the fiberglass mat inside the shingle, permanently weakening it. Even if the shingle lays flat after the event, the crease line is a future failure point where water will infiltrate and the shingle will eventually break.
Yes. Wind-creased shingles are a recognized form of storm damage. The crease compromises the shingle's structural integrity and its ability to shed water, qualifying it for replacement. Document each creased shingle with a close-up photo showing the fold line.
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