If you have an asphalt roof, then you may know how important it is to preserve your roof granules. The granule layer of your roof is the exterior coating of most asphalt shingles. These granules are made from minerals and crushed stone. Shingles that feature a plain color are usually made from just one granule color. Manufacturers also make laminate shingles, which are often referred to as architectural or dimensional shingles, that come with a mixture of two or more colors.
Why are Roofing Granules Important?
Roof granules add beauty to the exterior of your home. They also allow the shingles to shed any water that may land on them, preventing water from collecting and making its way into your home. Roof granules protect the coating of the roof’s shingles from the UV light emitted by the sun. They also make your home’s roof more resistant to fire.
Signs That Your Roof Needs to be Repaired or Replaced
It’s normal to lose some roof granules from time to time. For instance, you may spot a few of them in your gutter or in rain runoff water near the foundation of your home. However, if you’re seeing a lot of granules following a rainstorm, then check your gutters. If your gutters are filling up with granules, then contact a roof repair company. A roofing professional will be able to determine if it’s time to replace your shingles. He or she will inspect your roof to see how many granules are still on the shingles. If many of them are missing, then it’s likely you’ll need a roof replacement.
What Causes Roof Granules to Come Off?
It’s normal for shingles to lose granules with age. However, intense weather conditions like heavy rain, strong winds or hail can also loosen them. Roof traffic can dislodge them too, so if you tend to get up on your roof to hang Christmas lights, then you might want to stick to putting them up with a ladder.
Can You Stop Roof Granule Loss?
Accept that you won’t be able to stop asphalt granule loss entirely, but there are a few things that you can do to keep them around. For instance, don’t pressure wash your roof, and be sure to remove any debris that accumulates on your roof immediately. Also, check tree limbs and other landscaping elements to make sure that they have a minimum clearance of five feet from the roof line.
Leave Roof Work to the Professionals
When it comes to roof replacement, it’s best to contact a professional roofing company. While we commend the DIY experts out there, roof work is dangerous. Also, professional roofers are able to get specialty pricing from well-known roofing manufacturers. This means that it could cost you almost as much to do it yourself since you would likely have to pay more for quality materials. Doing the work yourself is also likely to void your warranty. If you need residential roofing assistance, give Schmidt Roofing a call.
