New research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety shows “asphalt shingle products respond to years of exposure to real-world weather conditions with considerable variability, leading to significant differences in wind performance over time,” according to IBHS.
IBHS scientists evaluated the wind performance of asphalt shingles that naturally weathered for 10 years at sites in Ohio, South Carolina and Wisconsin compared with laboratory baseline shingles and shingles that naturally weathered for five years at the same sites. The results show although wind resistance for many products increases during their first few years in service, most begin to decline at between five and 10 years. The rate and severity of decline varied widely by product.
“Through our Roof Aging Farm program, we’re learning how roofing materials perform throughout their service life, not just when they are new,” said Jake Sorber, IBHS research project scientist and engineer. “These findings reinforce the importance of identifying products that can maintain durability and wind performance over time and across different climate regions.”
Scientists also discovered the unsealing of shingles continues to be the greatest cause of wind vulnerability. When shingles lose the sealant bond, they are much more likely to fail in strong winds; products most prone to unsealing consistently had the highest probability of wind-related failure.
Although all tested products carried the highest wind classification under current standards, IBHS scientists found dramatically different performance outcomes after aging, reinforcing long-term wind performance is affected by factors beyond initial wind classification.
Geography also played a role, with performance affected by differences in solar radiation, temperature cycles and latitude. IBHS scientists found climate conditions can affect sealant activation and long-term wind resistance.
View the full report, 10-Year Wind Performance of Asphalt Shingles.
