Roofing Glossary
Shingle Clawing
Clawing is the mirror image of cupping: the middle of the shingle lifts and bulges upward while the edges stay nailed down, like a claw gripping the roof. It is the second classic curl pattern of aging asphalt shingles.
Clawing typically indicates the shingle mat is shrinking and distorting with age and thermal cycling. It is especially common on older shingles and on roofs with inadequate attic ventilation, where extreme heat cycling stresses the asphalt.
The raised center breaks the shingle's seal to the course above and creates a gap that wind-driven rain can exploit. Clawed shingles are also more brittle — foot traffic during repairs can crack them.
Why It Matters
Like cupping, widespread clawing means the shingle's physical structure is failing with age. Spot repairs on a broadly clawed roof are throwing good money after bad.
What to Watch For
- Shingle centers bulging upward between nailed edges
- Brittle shingles that crack when walked on
- Clawing across entire slopes rather than isolated spots
Questions about your own roof? Request a free estimate or call Nucci Brothers Roofing at (301) 458-1003.
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