Despite what their name may suggest, asphalt shingles aren’t made entirely of asphalt. Most often, the process of making a shingle begins with wet, random-laid fiberglass bonded with urea-formaldehyde resin. Then, the shingle is coated in asphalt, before a superficial layer of adhesive is added. Lastly, ceramic granules coat the outside of each shingle. Those granules serve 3 purposes: protection from UV rays, aesthetics, and fire resistance.
When your shingles start to lose their granules, you may notice bald spots, and you can sometimes spot the granules in your gutters. Both of these things are a sign that it’s time to replace your roof. Recently, we replaced a roof for a homeowner in Ridley Park who had started to notice bald spots on the shingles. Take a look at the photos below:
Check out this past post for 3 other warning signs that you need a new roof.