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If you clean or inspect your gutters yourself, you may have found sediment that consisted of granules from your asphalt shingle roof. In today’s post, the roofing and vinyl siding contractors at Austin Pro Siding, Windows & Roofing discuss why this happens and whether or not you should be worried about them.

What Are Asphalt Shingle Granules For?

Asphalt shingles are made of two layers: an asphalt-soaked backing material made of fiberglass or cellulose, and a top layer of granules made from crushed rock. During manufacture, the granules are pressed onto sheets of the just-soaked backing material and adhere as the asphalt cools down. It is normal for some granules to come loose after manufacture, and even after installation.

Granules provide more than just color for the roof. In fact, their main purpose is to protect the asphalt from exposure to UV rays and slow down degradation. Some asphalt shingle products also feature granules with reflective properties that help reduce radiant heat absorption, while others have copper granules blended in for protection against blue-green algae.

Granule Sediment In the Gutters

It is normal for the asphalt shingle roof to lose some of its granules over the course of its life span. If you find sediment in the gutters as you clean your gutters, you probably won’t need to call your roofing and siding repair repair contractor for repairs.

However, it doesn’t mean you should completely ignore it. You should pay attention to how much sediment is in the gutters. If the sediment is at least half an inch deep and is mostly made of asphalt shingle granules, it indicates increased wear on the roof. This is normal if the roof is nearing the end of its service life and is a signal to start planning for a roof replacement. If the roof still has several years left and you’re seeing a similar amount of sediment, it may be due to a manufacturing defect. Call your roofing contractor if this is the case.

Austin Pro Siding, Windows & Roofing is one of the leading roofing and window companies serving Austin. Give us a call at (512) 550-0000. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.