Brittle Test

A shingle brittleness test will be required for all jobs with a shingle roof older than 10 years or any signs of worn shingles.

Here's a step by step:

1. Put up a ladder against a south facing roof and perform from the top of the ladder.

2. The shingle is loosened at its lower edge from the shingle below it.

3. It is then raised and lowered at a 90 degree angle.

Things to keep in mind:

When temperatures are warmer, shingles will be more malleable
- Be more aggressive
When temperatures are colder, shingles will be more brittle
- Be less aggressive.

Do not complete brittleness tests in temperatures lower than 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some intuition is required when completing these tests. Use your better judgement to decide if a brittleness test is appropriate or not based on:

Please watch the video to the right.

GH014564.MP4

How do we know if the test passed or failed?

If you see the following occurring with the test, then the shingles have failed the brittle test:

Flaking granules and creases are the main sign we’re looking for.

Site Survey: Always make clear notes and indications of failed brittleness tests in Field Pro.

Design & Engineering: Flag for reroof if you see a failed brittleness test.

For Site Survey:

What to do with a failed brittleness test:

If a shingle is creased or damaged during brittle test run a line of sealant above the crease/damage in between the shingle layers.
If more extensive damage is done like shingles becoming completely detached please make sure to communicate that via Field Pro.

What does a passed test look like?

A passed test looks like this afterwords:

Notice there’s no creasing or breaking on this shingle.

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