Mitchellville Gutter Replacement & Gutter Guard Installation

Shingle granules and what they do to a gutter

Every asphalt roof sheds granules, most heavily when it is new and again when it is near the end of its life. They are heavier than they look, they do not decompose, and they wash straight into the gutter, where they settle along the bottom of the trough and collect at the outlet. Unlike leaves, they pass through most screens without difficulty and accumulate underneath. Over years this builds a layer of coarse grit that holds moisture against the gutter floor, adds weight, and gradually narrows the effective cross-section. The most useful thing about granules is diagnostic. A sudden increase in what comes out of the downspout, or a visible drift of grit at the splash block, is one of the more reliable early indications that a roof is reaching the end of its service life. It is worth mentioning to whoever cleans the gutters, because they see it before anyone standing on the ground does. It also explains why a system on a house with an old roof needs clearing more often than the surrounding trees alone would suggest.