If you've noticed gritty little rocks collecting in your eavestrough or at the bottom of a downspout, that's not nothing. Those are the granules off your shingles — and they're an early sign your roof is starting to dry out.
What the granules do
The granules are the gritty top layer of an asphalt shingle. They shield the asphalt underneath from the sun's UV. As shingles age and lose their oils, the surface gets brittle and the granules start to let go — first a few, then more.
Once enough are gone, the asphalt is exposed, dries faster, and the roof's decline speeds up.
Why it happens faster on the prairies
Saskatchewan roofs take a beating: intense summer UV, big temperature swings, and dry air all pull moisture and oils out of shingles. That's why a prairie roof can start showing its age earlier than the shingle warranty might suggest.
What you can do about it
If the granule loss is early and the shingles are still sound, a preservation treatment can replenish the oils and help the remaining granules stay adhered — in our own ASTM testing, treated shingles held onto their granules far better than untreated ones.
If the loss is far along and the asphalt is already cracking, preservation won't fix it — and we'll tell you.
Not sure which camp you're in? Get a free estimate and we'll take an honest look.