That early granule loss trips a lot of folks up. Manufacturers call it “shed-off”—it’s just the loose stuff from production, not a sign your roof’s doomed. But yeah, if you’re seeing actual bald spots or the shingles look patchy, that’s a different story. I’ve seen some roofs where the pattern really does look like fish scales—kind of cool until you realize you’re up there to fix a leak. Sticky shoe covers are a no-go for me too... nothing like sliding down a steep pitch to make you rethink your footwear choices.
- That “shed-off” granule thing gets folks worried for no reason.
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Couldn’t agree more—bald spots are a red flag.“if you’re seeing actual bald spots or the shingles look patchy, that’s a different story.”
- Fish scale pattern’s neat until you realize it means trouble.
- Sticky shoe covers... tried them once, never again. Wet morning, nearly slid right off.
- Hang in there—most early granule loss is just cosmetic, not structural.
That fish scale look is cool from a distance, but yeah, when you start seeing uneven patches or shiny spots, it’s usually not a good sign. I’ve noticed on some older roofs, especially after a big storm, you’ll get those weird bare streaks where the granules just vanish. Sometimes it’s just cosmetic, but I’ve seen cases where the underlayment starts peeking through and then you’re in for leaks.
About the sticky shoe covers—totally agree. I tried them on a damp morning and almost ended up in the neighbor’s yard. Never again.
Curious if anyone’s seen more granule loss on steeper slopes? I always thought gravity would make it worse, but some folks say flatter roofs shed more because water pools up. Not sure which is worse long-term...
I’ve always noticed the granule loss is way more obvious on my south-facing, steeper section after a heavy rain. But then again, my buddy’s flat garage roof looks like a gravel driveway after every storm. I guess both have their own headaches. Gravity vs puddles… pick your poison.
That’s interesting, because I’ve got a pretty average-pitch roof and I still see a ton of granules in the gutters after a big storm. Mine faces east-west, so I figured maybe it was just age (it’s about 12 years old now), but now I’m wondering if it’s more about the slope or the direction. On the flat part over my porch, I get standing water sometimes, but not nearly as much visible granule loss. Is it possible UV exposure is a bigger factor than slope? Or maybe my attic ventilation isn’t helping. Roofing seems way more complicated than I thought when I bought this place...
