Maintaining roofs is a crucial part of avoiding serious problems building up. There are many areas to the construction of a roof, and over time they will receive wear and tear naturally and can be damaged in other ways. Fascias and soffits can rot. Tiles can crack. Flashing can become loose, or completely come away. One of the other signs that your roof needs immediate attention is when you notice bald spots on your shingles. Granular loss is common with shingles and can happen for a variety of reasons. When you notice that you are losing a large number of granules though, you may need to consider your options.
Do you try to replace these granules, or do you replace the whole roof?
Should you carry out your own roofing repairs?
Before discussing whether it is possible to replace granules on shingles, you should understand the importance of using professionals for roofing issues. One reason that shingles lose granules is because of being walked on. Another is from poor installation. But perhaps the main concern you should have from attempting your own roofing repairs is the danger involved. According to IBEC, the death rate for roofers in 2018 was 51.5 out of 100,000 individuals. The next year this figure rose. The average fatality rate across all occupations is only 3.5 out of 100,000. This makes roofing one of the most dangerous professions, and should only be carried out by qualified individuals.
Is it possible to replace granule loss?
Some companies specialize in roof coating systems. They recommend somewhere in the region of 40lbs per 100sq ft of roofing. The idea is that a few coats of adhesive are applied to the shingles one section at a time. The granules spread across this section after the adhesive has had time to dry for a few days. The loose granules can be blown off and collected for use on the rest of the roof. How effective these systems are is unclear.
What are the alternatives for replacing granules?
The majority of roofing companies recommend replacing damaged shingles, or in the worst-case scenarios, the whole roof. When selecting a roofing company it is a great idea to read local reviews and testimonials. These can give you a more informed and considered opinion when choosing a roofing company. A reputable roofer will come and assess your roof for granular loss and advise on the best course of action. It may be that your granular loss is perfectly normal, as shingles will shed these over time naturally. It is normal for a certain amount of shingles to shed from simple wear and tear, or from being loose in the first place.
Why do granules shed themselves from shingles?
There are some big signs that you need roofing repairs without delay, and missing or cracked tiles and shingles are definitely one of them. Losing shingles may not be an emergency, depending on how much granular loss there is. If you are noticing rainwater runoff with a lot of granules then you may need some urgent attention. Granules come off for a variety of reasons including being trodden on. Mostly though, they will come from wear and tear during their lifetime. Shingles are there to protect the roof from the extremities, and weather takes its toll on the granular coating.
What is the importance of granules, what is their purpose?
Shingles come in all manner of colors. If you want your roof to be blue, green, red, or black, there are shingles for you. This is because the granules come in different colors and can be mixed to create whichever shade a homeowner desires. However, granules also have more serious purposes than just aesthetics. Granules provide protection for the shingle itself. Granules block how much sunlight reaches the shingle. This means that harmful ultraviolet rays are prevented from reaching the shingle and causing damage. The granules also provide a non-slip surface through their very nature, meaning that they are safer to walk on. The granules themselves also help to understand how a roof is aging.Although you don’t want to see bald shingles, being able to spot where granular loss has happened means that you know it’s time for some repairs. Mostly this just means replacing these damaged shingles.
Summary
If you notice a few granules in your gutter or drain then you may not need to panic. A certain amount of granule loss is to be expected and is nothing to worry about. However, if you start to see a large amount of granules appearing then it is time to call in a professional roofer. Look for reviews, testimonials, and you can also search with the National Roofing Contractors Association for a local company. Ignoring granular loss can lead to further problems, but it will also mean that your roof will start to look drab and dull as the colored shingles disappear.
