When you finally get a new roof, you would expect the roof to look it’s best. However, you might notice that there are some bits of granules falling off your new asphalt roof. Granule loss on new shingles can become a worrying situation. However, it is not really as bad as most people think it is. If you have just gotten a new roof installed, you are likely to experience this.
Granules are embedded in asphalt shingles during the manufacturing of the tiles. However, there are some bits that are not directly embedded into the shingle but get caught between other embedded granules. These other granules are not attached to the shingle so they are likely to fall off slowly from manufacturing to the packaging to the installation on your roof and even after. While a bit of granule loss is normal, there may be a need to inspect your roof to ensure that the actual intact granules are still in place.
New Asphalt Roof Shingles
When asphalt shingles are manufactured, there are tons of tiny granules that are embedded on its topcoat. In most shingles, there are bits that, instead of directly getting embedded onto the actual shingle, get stuck and are kept in place between the attached bits. In this case, they are not as securely placed. They are likely to get removed when the asphalt shingles get moved around, which happens a lot since the shingles still need to be packaged, shipped, sold, transported, and then installed.
During the first rainfall after your shingles just get installed, you’ll probably find a lot of granules get runoff and end up in the gutters. You shouldn’t take this as a sign that your roof is defective. Assess it first and as long as the intact granules haven’t washed off yet, your new roof shingles are still in good condition.
Granule Loss On Shingles
In other cases, your shingle roofs may have lasted a few years and end up suddenly losing tons of granules. Granule loss is a normal sign of shingle wear and can be further exacerbated by harsh weather conditions such as heavy rainstorms, hail storms, or hurricanes – basically anything that has to do with strong winds and the possibility of a heavy impact on your roof. One of the worst causes behind granule loss is when your roofing contractor installs a defective shingle product on your roof. You’ll be able to tell when this happens because you will find that your asphalt roof becomes bald; that means there is major granule loss.
After a few decades, your asphalt shingles are eventually going to go bald and this is one of the clear signs that you are in need of a roofing replacement.
Importance of Granules
The reason there are so much emphasis and worry placed on signs of granule loss is that asphalt roof shingle granules are an important layer that protects your roof. It is the main layer that shields the roof from UV rays, direct sunlight, and harsh weather. If you have colored asphalt shingles, the color is likely to be carried by the presence of the granules. This means that granule loss becomes even more apparent on colored asphalt shingle roofs.
Granule Loss Caused by Improper Shingle Installation
While granule loss is common and unavoidable, when there is a heightened level of premature granule loss occurring, this is likely caused by 2 major things: First is the installation of a defective set of roof shingles. While you can directly blame the roofing contractor for this mistake, it is best to get a skilled team who can tell between good and high-quality materials and lower-tiered defective products before installing them The second likely cause is the improper installation of the shingles.
When the roof shingles are not set the right way, it is very likely that granule loss will occur. Whatever the cause of major granule loss, the main concern is getting your new shingles replaced or repaired. But, you have to determine whether the level of granule loss is acceptable or is already a cause for alarm. If you have any concerns, it is best to ask your roofer. But, if you have any doubts, you can also get a second opinion on your new roofing Huntsville AL to be sure.
Related Articles:
Checking On Standing Seam Metal Roof Hail Damage
0 Comments