Roof granules are bits of the crushed stone or mineral pieces embedded in asphalt shingles to help deflect the sun’s rays and protect the roof from the effects of harsh weather. When they drop off, they leave the asphalt layer underneath exposed, which ultimately leads to expensive roof leaks. If you see granules on your lawn or when you clean your gutters, you might be wondering what makes them fall off.
A New Roof? No Problem
New roofs will sometimes shed excess granules when it rains. This is perfectly normal. Sometimes, granules get knocked loose during the roof installation process. In either case, you have nothing to worry about.
An Older Roof May Need Professional Help
Once your roof reaches middle age, which is about eight years for most regular asphalt-shingled roofs, you may see more granules falling off than usual. Time and exposure to the elements lead to bonding failure, and if you see a lot of granules or larger pieces falling, it may be time to bring in a professional roofer.
Weather and Seasonal Changes
Seasonal temperature swings and precipitation can affect granules, too. Summer roof surface temperatures can climb high enough to dry out asphalt and loosen the bond holding the shingle’s surface in place. Rain can wear the granules away.
As for the wind, it causes a lot of things to blow. Wind-driven rain can get underneath the shingle’s surface, and causing granules to loosen and flow into your gutters. It also causes tree branches to fall on your roof and mineral granules to break off. That kind of damage is something you’ll need to deal with immediately by contacting a professional roofer.
The Attic Can Contribute to the Granule Problem
Attics can get hot if they’re not properly ventilated. That’s not exactly an original observation, but all that heat gets trapped in your roof deck, adding to the already existing problem of surface heat beating down on the outside. If you don’t take action to resolve the ventilation issue, you’ll just pass the loss of granules on to any roof you replace your current one with.
With age, nature and your attic conspiring to damage your roof, you need to know when to take action. The biggest sign that you’ve lost too much of your shingle surface is that it looks shiny or reflective on clear days. Worse, you may see fiberglass rising from your shingles, which means they’re more or less entirely exposed. A professional roofer can tell you whether your roof can be saved or if it needs to be replaced. When you need roof repair services in Allentown, PA, contact Bachman’s Roofing.
