Are you worried about your roofing because of UV sunlight? You may know that UV can cause damage to your asphalt roofing, but no more worries as we are here for you with a solution.
As you know UV sunlight is the number one enemy of your asphalt roofing, and sometimes it leads to the degradation level. Well, roofing granules can make your roof abrasion-resistant. Basically, it is built with ceramic coating. For obtaining the proper granule size, rock particles are firstly processed and then covered using a mixture of silicate.
Now you know a bit about the roofing granules. But you might wonder now how to apply roofing granules.
Stay connected with us to know further on this as we will walk you through the whole process in detail. Before discussing thoroughly, let’s start with how it is made of.
How The Roofing Granules Are Made Of?
Roofing granules usually are built with a coating of ceramic. Most of the granules are made of consist of rock particles. After collecting the particles, they need to be processed so that you can get the proper granule size. Then they are to be covered with a mixture of silicate. Afterwards, they need colours to be added which make them appealing.
In order to turn it into a ceramic, it has to be treated by rotary calciners just after the coating of granules. The reason for doing this is to make the shingles more durable. Finally, it produces a final product that is absolutely aesthetic in terms of beauty.
Now let’s discuss the applying procedure of roofing granules in detail.
Step By Step Guide On How To Apply Roofing Granules:
Knowing the applying method of granules is so important. There are some steps to applying it. In this section, you will get to know them sequentially.
Step 1: Abrasion resistance
Usually, we use roofing granules for abrasion resistance. Firstly, you need to clean your roof for applying the granules so that it can bond strongly with the asphalt.
Step 2: Safety
For safety purposes, granule assists to create a non-slippery surface. After cleaning up the roof, now you are ready to apply the granules all over the roof.
Step 3: Application
In order to apply the granules, we should observe the surface of the roof first. If the surface is slippery, then for every 100 square feet of roof, it is required to use 40 lbs of granules.
But if the surface is non-slippery, then 10-20 lbs per square foot is more than enough. For this, you need #11M of granules. Keep in your mind that application rates can vary depending on your preference.
Step 4: Grit
Well, in this stage, if you do not use granules as your surfacing layer, then you should merely use grit to the roofing surface. In fact, it is quite unnecessary if you do not consider the surfacing layer with granules.
Step 5: Drying
Usually, there are three coats in this process-based coat, finish coat and adhesive coat. Firstly, the base coat and the finish coat need to be allowed for drying at least for three to four days. Then the third coat which is known as the adhesive coat should be applied.
In the process of coating, when the third coat remains wet, then the roofing granules must be spread evenly for better functionality. Here, it is highly recommended to do only one segment at a time.
Step 6: Loose granules
We already know that the roofing granules are made out of crushed stones and minerals. With the passage of time, some granules may fall or we call it loose from the layer of asphalt which can cause damage to your roof.
But here, after the coating is dried up, you can take a blower to eradicate the loose granules from the surface. Then after recovering, you can reuse it to the layer on the rest of the roof.
Losing granules is common from the asphalt layer similar to bitumen membranes. Especially if you walk barefoot on the surface of the coat, then the granules gradually penetrate the membrane of the coating.
It is highly recommended to use walk pads specifically for the areas which need to be maintained heavily. Usually, asphalt shingles have three layers.
- The first layer is backing material,
- The second one is an asphalt layer,
- And the third one is an outer layer of granules.
So by following the above-mentioned steps carefully, you can maintain your roof for a longer period of time.
Advantages Of Roofing Granules:
Basically, the roofing granules have several benefits which are pointed out below:
- UV ray protection:
Granules protect the asphalt layer of your roof from the harsh UV ray of sunlight which means it really performs to make your roof more durable.
- Appearance
Usually, the granules have a total of six different colours which create a huge palette of tones and make your home look as beautiful as you want. It creates a rich and appealing appearance.
- Surface safety
Worksurface safety is the most important part here as granules help to add adhesion to your asphalt shingles. As the roof ages, it needs to be ensured that granules do not lose.
- Cooler
Granules help your roof cooler which means it costs you less on your utility bill. It provides you with comfort along with aesthetic beauty.
- Fire resistance
As another advantage, your roofing granules can provide fire resistance for your shingles on the roof. So it ensures your safety as well.
Although granules are small in size, it matters a lot to your roof as they can impact the life and the appearance of your roof.
Verdict:
So, I hope you have got your answer on how to apply roofing granules. As we have mentioned in this article all the steps in detail, you can apply granules to your roof.
If you really want to make your roofing more aesthetic, protect your roofing from UV rays and make fire resistance, then it will be a worth decision to make to apply granules on your roof without any hesitation.
I wish you the best of luck to make your roof more beautiful after reading this article.
