Although most home or business owners don’t often think twice about the tiny pellets that come off their roof, granule loss is an important indicator of your roof’s condition and remaining lifespan. Asphalt shingles are made with small stone particles, such as rhyolite, granite, slate, or basalt, embedded into the asphalt to protect your home from the sun’s harsh ultraviolet rays, shield shingles from heavy rain, and add fire resistance to your roof. When you notice these protective granules building up in your gutter or littering your driveway, it can be a warning sign that it’s time for new shingles.
Although shedding mineral granules from your asphalt roof can accelerate deterioration of your shingles and affect your eligibility for insurance claims, some types of granule loss are natural, with no cause for concern. At Kanga Roof, we offer professional roof inspections to help diagnose underlying issues and find the best fixes for your home. Understanding the different causes of granule loss helps you to determine the condition of your roof and plan for the best course of action.
1. Severe Weather and Storms
One of the most common causes of excessive and abrupt granule loss is harsh weather. Substantial downpours, high winds, and hailstorms can physically tear the mineral granules off of the shingles. This kind of granule loss leaves bare spots on the shingles, often in the shape of an oval or circle. You may also notice dents or bruises where the roof was struck. This type of granule loss is usually covered by homeowner insurance policies and should be inspected soon after the damaging storm.
2. Poor Attic Ventilation
Heat that is trapped in attics can bake an asphalt shingle from underneath the roof. The added heat can accelerate granule loss by softening the asphalt shingles, causing them to lose the mineral particles. This shedding will leave you with gummy shingles and granules missing in thin layers. Ensure that your attic is properly ventilated with airflow that allows your attic’s high temperatures to cool.
3. Heavy Foot Traffic
If you have a tree in your yard that is constantly scraping the top of your roof, or you often find yourself walking on the roof to install Christmas lights, clean gutters, or make repairs, you may notice the granules rubbing loose. Granule loss from these types of abrasions can look like patterns or pathways of missing or flattened particles that tend to be more concentrated. You can avoid this type of granule damage by using ladders to reach high places on the perimeter of your roof, or by hiring professional roofing specialists to help you make installations or repairs.
4. Natural Aging and Wear
Throughout the years, harsh UV rays, thick hail, and heavy rain slowly weaken the shingle’s adhesive, and the granules are shed over time. Age-related granule loss usually builds up around the last few years of the shingle’s estimated lifespan, and is often presented with other time-related issues like cracked, sun-bleached, or cupped tiles. You can tell that your granule loss is from natural wear and tear when the loss is spread across the whole roof.
5. New Roof Shedding
It’s common for newly installed asphalt shingles to shed loose granules after first being placed. New shingles lose small minerals that haven’t fully embedded into the asphalt when manufactured. This particle loss may appear after the first few rainstorms and should only last a few months after the shingles are laid.
6. Improper Installation
If asphalt shingles are nailed too tightly, layered improperly, or roughly placed with high-pressure tools, granules can fall off too early. Although this type of granule loss isn’t as severe, it can cause greater problems down the line, like shingle cracking or wood rot under misaligned tiles. It’s important to work with licensed professionals to ensure that your shingles aren’t damaged during your roof’s installation process.
When to Call the Roofing Professionals at Kanga Roof
Whether you’re building a roof for a new home or just in need of shingle replacement, Kanga Roof has all the right roofing solutions for you. With roof inspection, roof repair, and high-quality asphalt shingles, we can help remedy granule loss on your roof. Modest, durable, and long-lasting, our products are engineered to withstand harsh weather and extreme temperatures, giving you an affordable roof that lasts. Awarded the Technician Seal of Safety, you can trust Kanga Roof to work on your home safely and effectively. Contact us for more information or to request an estimate on your next roofing project today!
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