Granule Loss Stopped Cold With a Full Roof Replacement

Granule loss is one of those things homeowners tend to ignore until it's too late. You notice the granules piling up in your gutters or washing off the downspouts, but the roof still looks okay from the street - so you wait. The problem is, once a shingle starts shedding its granules, the protective layer is gone. The underlying asphalt is exposed, and it's only a matter of time before water finds its way in.

That's exactly where this roof was headed. We got in front of it before leaks had a chance to start. The tear-off revealed the full deck, and we started fresh - no shortcuts, no layovers. The old material came off completely, the deck was inspected, and we built the new system right from the bottom up.

For the underlayment, we went with CertainTeed's RoofRunner, secured with plastic cap nails. That cap nail detail matters more than people realize. Standard roofing nails have a small head that can pull through underlayment in high winds. Plastic cap nails spread the holding force across a much wider surface area, which means the underlayment stays put even when conditions get rough. It's a small upgrade that makes a real difference in how the whole system performs.

On top of that went CertainTeed NorthGate ClimateFlex shingles in Burnt Sienna - a Class 4 impact-rated product. Class 4 is the highest impact resistance rating available for roofing shingles. That rating means the shingle is tested to withstand significant hail hits without cracking or fracturing. For a home with tree coverage like this one, that kind of durability is worth having. The warm, multi-tonal Burnt Sienna color ended up being a great match against the red siding too.

The finished roof is clean, tight, and laid out with consistent coursing across the full surface. No granule loss, no exposed asphalt, no waiting around for the first leak to show up. If your roof is starting to show those same signs of wear, it's worth getting eyes on it now rather than later.