The granules on the shingles are the modest pebbles of colour that are added last. They are pressed into the shingle to give it the correct colour and texture to expect gorgeous on your roof. You might exist concerned if you spot some granules in the downspouts or can run across that the shingles on the very edge have begun to lose color. You're right to exist concerned. Granule loss may exist normal, but it may also be a sign that your roof has a serious problem, or that the manufacturer made a mistake. Here's what you demand to know about granule loss on the border of your shingles.

When Granule Loss is Normal

When manufacturers make asphalt shingles, the last stride is to printing granules into the summit. They add more than is necessary on purpose. It'due south kind of like when yous put glitter onto a surface, you simply added gum also. You lot add together more than necessary, so you tin be sure every spot is covered. It's normal for some of the glitter to come off when you lot're done, only equally it's normal for some of the shingle granules to come off when they are get-go installed. However, granule loss after the roof has been rained on the beginning few times is a matter of business organisation.

Lack of Edge Protection

Are the shingles that have lost granules as well curled over a bit? This is common on roofs that don't have border protection. While many people, and some inexperienced roofers, think of roofs as just as a layer of shingles, there are really more than components, especially at the edge.

Hither, a roof needs a baste border (which is a metallic flashing), fascia, and gutters. Without these three components, water doesn't end up heading down to the footing safely. Instead, it might baste off the edge of the shingles. This erosion may strip the edges of the shingles of granules.

To set this issue and prevent further impairment to the roof, you'll need to take the edge shingles replaced, and you lot'll need to have the proper edge components installed.

Ice Dams

Shingles may also lose their granules from water ice dams. This phenomenon occurs when the snowfall melts on your roof and so re-freezes on the border of the roof merely before it gets into the gutters. Constant ice dam exposure can wear out the shingles and remove the granules from the affected shingles. In this case, you need to get the shingles replaced and the underlying problem causing the ice dams fixed.

Is Granule Loss a Manufacturer Defect?

Granule loss may be a manufacturer defect. If y'all suspect your shingles were simply not fabricated correctly, you lot'll demand a professional roofer to confirm your guess and aid yous make a claim under your warranty with the manufacturer. Some manufacturers consider this to be a "cosmetic" problem that doesn't actually impact the performance of the roof. In this case, they volition not replace the shingles.

Your roofer is best positioned to tell you if granule loss volition bea problem for your roof's lifespan or functioning. They can too help guide you to choose manufacturers who offering warranties that cover this problem.