Asphalt shingles have tens of thousands of tiny granules that are made of crushed stone. They coat the shingle’s surface while providing the roof’s color and texture, but they also have a protective layer that minimizes damage caused by sun exposure (combined with your home’s low heat penetration level).
Asphalt shingles play an important role in creating a functional roofing system, but they’re often susceptible to damage and other roofing problems (including shingle granule loss). You may notice mineral granules in your gutter system or along sidewalks, which can be a sign of damaged shingles.
It’s normal for shingles to lose their granules over time, but excessive granule loss is a cause for concern. Here are some of the common reasons why you have shingle granule loss.
#1: New Asphalt Shingle Roof
Many homeowners experience granule loss after they install a new asphalt shingle roof or have a roof replacement. Losing granules immediately after installing or replacing an entire roof can worry homeowners, but it’s completely normal. If your shingles start to lose their granules after you have installed or replaced your roof, you have no reason to be worried.
Even if they’re installed properly and use the best protective coating, a new asphalt shingle roof can lose granules in the first few weeks or months after the job has been completed. Roofing contractors will loosen granules as they work and walk around the roof’s surface.
Rainwater will wash these loose shingle granules off the surface of your new roof and into the gutter system, but it should stop soon after you have the roof installed. If the rate of granule loss doesn’t go down after a few weeks, be sure to speak to your roofing company to make sure everything was properly installed or get a roof inspection to find out if your new shingles are defective.
#2: Improper Installation or Repairs
When you put your trust in a roofing professional, you expect everything to go smoothly. But not every roofing contractor has the same level of expertise or experience. You may even end up having more roofing issues than when you started.
If a roofer cuts corners during the roof replacement, the materials may be at risk of flaking and premature damage from exposure to the elements. A good roofing contractor will be able to do the work properly and will use methods that will minimize any impact to your asphalt shingles, which will reduce the risk of granule loss.
#3: Batching or Flaking Asphalt Roof Shingles
The term “flaking” is used by roofing professionals to describe local granule loss, which will show up as missing granules in concentrated patches across your roof. While problems with the manufacturing process can cause flaking, it can also be exacerbated by improper installation or an asphalt shingle replacement that has gone wrong.
If your roofing contractor uses the “stair-step method” to install roof shingles instead of placing each shingle side-by-side, your roof may experience more shingle granule loss than usual. That’s why you need to vet roofing contractors before you hire them. Batching roof shingles can also be a problem. If a contractor uses older shingles with new ones, it will make your roof more susceptible to patchy granule loss because every type of shingle will age and deteriorate at different rates.
#4: Manufacturing Defects
It can cost a lot to install or even replace a new shingle roof, especially if you choose to install higher-end materials. While homeowners hope for roofing projects to go smoothly, it isn’t always the case. You may end up having shingles that are only failing because of manufacturing defects.
Blistering is probably the most common indication of a defective shingle product, and it can be a big reason why you’re experiencing shingle granule loss on your new roof. It manifests itself as pimple-like protrusions along the asphalt shingle, which are usually caused by your asphalt shingles not having enough of a protective layer to prevent leaks and shingle wear.
A lot of roofing manufacturers say that it’s only a cosmetic issue, but blistering could be the reason why your roof is losing granules. Be sure to contact a roofing professional to look at your roofing shingles, and make sure that your roof warranty will cover a roof replacement if it’s needed.
If you’re looking for one of the best places for roof repair in Corpus Christi, be sure to reach out to Bayfront Roofing.
