A lot of homeowners may notice dark-looking grit or granules in the cracks along the driveway. They may also find granules in gutters, in the drip line of the home, around porches, or in their gutters. What is this ask? These are granules that come from the shingles on your roof. Seeing granules around your property is sometimes just a natural occurrence of the aging process of the shingles. But often this could be a potential warning sign.
Here is a few things to keep in mind when deciding if the granule loss is something to be concerned about.
First off, what exactly are shingle granules?
When a shingle is made, it is made as a fiberglass mat. This mat is coated and covered with asphalt and then small limestone granules embedded on the top surface of the shingle. These small granules serve several very important functions:
These limestone granules can come in assorted colors and shades to give homeowners different choices in the color of their roof. These colors enhance the overall look and appeal of the roof.
- Additionally, some are treated with different additives to fight against algae and staining. They protect the color of your shingles for years, or even the lifetime of the shingles.
- Granules also protect the asphalt and fiberglass mat from the sun’s harmful UV rays. This protection prevents damage and deterioration of the shingle’s life span.
- Fire Resistance is a major way that these small stones protect your home. These small granules make a major contribution to the fire-resistance properties of your asphalt shingle.
So why do I see granules in my gutters, along my driveway, and around my home?
Natural Occurrence: All roofs will shed granules after a new roof is installed. While the shingles are packaged, prepared, and transported from the manufacturer to your home, some excess granules will come loose. This is nothing to be alarmed at. They are designed and engineered with this in mind. We call this the “Initial Shedding”. Also, roofs as they age will naturally lose granules due to the climate. A certain amount of loss is expected and not something to be concerned about. For peace of mind, it’s always a good practice to have a reputable licensed roofing company inspect a roof every so often to ensure there is nothing to be concerned about.
Weather-Related Impact: Heavy rains, winds, and storms can cause the granules to dislodge sooner than normal. If repeated year after year, it could cause the shingle’s life span to shorten. While shingles are engineered to stand the test of time, excessive granular loss is something that should be closely monitored. A hailstorm can cause damage to shingles and impact the granules and fiberglass mat in a hurry. This can be damaging in just one storm. Hail, when it hits your roof knocks granules loose and even can create little pits where the impact happened. If you notice a lot of granules after a hailstorm, you should have your roof inspected ASAP. You most likely have a roof that is now damaged by a storm and is considered replaceable by most insurance companies’ standards.
Miscellaneous Damage: A few other ways you can experience accelerated granule loss is after a lot of foot traffic on the roof. Asphalt shingles can shed their granules while people are walking around on top of a roof, particularly in the heat of the day. If someone needs to get onto your roof and walk around, it is best to do it early in the day before the roof has had time to heat up. Also, improper repairs or a bad installation may cause damage to the surrounding shingles causing premature granule loss. Often when a homeowner prefers to repair an older roof rather than replace it, the surrounding shingles can be damaged during a repair. Precautions should be made to limit the collateral damage during repairs.
When should I be alarmed?
If you notice consistently a large number of granules, particularly after a storm or event, this could indicate your shingles are deteriorating faster than expected. Shingles should be pretty consistent with no bare spots. So if you notice bare spots in areas on your roof, this should be evaluated ASAP. If you have an older roof, this is part of its life cycle. Any roof that is over 20 yrs. old should be inspected regularly, 1-4 times per year. Staying on top of this will allow you to thwart issues before they arise. If you notice any water stains from the interior of the home, you should have the roof looked at immediately. This could be a sign of damage or other damage that has already been taking place.
CONCLUSION
Finding shingle granules in your gutters or on your driveway is not uncommon, especially if you live in a climate that is rough on the exterior of the home. Nevertheless, it’s important to monitor the situation. Normal aging and weather conditions can cause some granule loss. However, excessive and consistent loss can be a sign of underlying issues. Regular roof inspections and maintenance can help you catch problems early and extend the life of your roof. If you’re unsure about the condition of your shingles, consult a reputable professional roofing contractor to assess the situation today.
