Why Asphalt Shingles Dry Out (And How to Restore Them the Right Way)

Asphalt shingles are designed to handle years of sun, rain, wind, and seasonal temperature swings. But over time, those same environmental forces cause your shingles to dry out, lose flexibility, and break down.

When shingles become dry shingles, they can crack, shed granules, and fail to protect your home the way they were designed to. The good news? Modern science makes it possible to restore shingle flexibility and extend the life of your roof if you use the right type of roof rejuvenation technology.



Let’s break down why shingles dry out and what actually restores them.

Why Do Asphalt Shingles Dry Out?

Shingles dry out because they slowly lose the natural oils and resins inside the asphalt. These oils are what keep the shingles flexible and able to expand, contract, and hold onto granules.

Here are the main causes:

1. UV Damage

Direct sunlight accelerates oxidation inside the asphalt.
Over time, UV rays break down the oils that keep shingles flexible, causing:

• Brittleness
• Surface cracking
• Faster granule loss

2. Heat Exposure

On a sunny day, your roof can reach 150°F–170°F.
Extreme heat literally bakes the oils out of your shingles.

3. Freeze–Thaw Cycles

In colder climates, moisture gets into tiny cracks.
When water freezes, it expands causing:

• Splits
• Curling
• Lost granules
• Accelerated drying

4. Aging of the Asphalt Binder

As shingles age, oxidation increases.
The binder hardens.
Flexibility disappears.
Your roof becomes “dry aged” long before you see visible damage.

Why Dry Shingles Are a Big Problem

When shingles dry out:

• They can’t flex with temperature changes
• They crack more easily
• The granule layer loosens
• Water resistance drops
• Wind damage becomes more likely

Most homeowners don’t notice dry shingles until it’s too late, when repairs or replacement are already needed.

But shingles CAN be restored… if you use the right technology.

Not All Roof Sprays Actually Restore Shingles

This is where many homeowners get misled.

There are two types of “roof sprays”:

1. Surface Softeners (Most Products on the Market)

These sprays make shingles feel softer for a short time, but they:

• Do not replenish lost oils
• Do not improve granule adhesion
• Do not restore flexibility long-term
• Simply darken the roof for curb appeal

They temporarily soften the asphalt but they do not rebuild it.
After a few months of sun and weather, the effect wears off, and the shingles continue aging.

2. Deep, Chemical Restorers (This is Fresh Roof)

Fresh Roof uses patented GreenSoy™ Technology designed to penetrate the shingle, not sit on top of it.

This means it:

• Replenishes the oils that shingles lost
• Restores shingle flexibility at the molecular level
• Improves granule adhesion
• Strengthens the asphalt binder from the inside out
• Slows future aging by rebuilding the shingle structure

This is real roof restoration, not a temporary softening.

Independent lab testing shows measurable improvements in:

• Flexibility
• Tensile strength
• Granule retention
• UV resistance

That’s why Fresh Roof is trusted nationwide by homeowners who want results not just a darker roof for a week.

Roof Spray Benefits (When It’s REAL Restoration)

A true rejuvenation product like Fresh Roof delivers benefits you won’t get from short-term coatings or softeners:

✔️ Extends the life of your roof

✔️ Restores lost flexibility

✔️ Helps shingles withstand heat and freezing

✔️ Reduces granule loss

✔️ Enhances water resistance

✔️ Makes the roof look newer

✔️ Saves thousands vs. replacing early

When dry shingles are restored from the inside, they act more like they did when they were new flexible, durable, and ready to protect your home.

How Fresh Roof Restores Shingles From the Inside Out

Fresh Roof is engineered to chemically interact with asphalt shingles.

Here’s how it works:

1. The soy-based rejuvenator penetrates through the granule layer.
2. It enters the asphalt binder, the core of the shingle.
3. It restores the lost oils that weather took away.
4. The asphalt regains flexibility and strength.
5. The shingle bonds more tightly to its granules.
6. The roof ages slower going forward not faster.

Other sprays simply can’t do this because:

• They sit on top
• They use temporary solvents
• They don’t chemically bind with asphalt
• They don’t rebuild the internal structure

Fresh Roof doesn’t just soften it restores.

Final Takeaway: Don’t Replace Dry Shingles — Restore Them

Dry shingles don’t automatically mean you need a new roof. In most cases, your shingles just need the oils they’ve lost over time.

Fresh Roof gives homeowners a science backed way to:

• Restore flexibility
• Strengthen aging shingles
• Improve roof performance
• Extend roof life by years
• Save thousands in replacement costs

Before you spend big money on a new roof, find out if your dry shingles can be restored from the inside out the right way.

Connect with a Fresh Roof dealer for an inspection HERE