On a roof under two years old, a layer of grit in the gutters is normal. Shingle makers press extra granules into every shingle, and the spares wash off in the first months.
On an older roof, or right after a hailstorm, the same grit can mean the shingles are wearing out or took a beating. Bare spots on the roof settle the question.
Is it normal to find granules in the gutters after a new roof?
Yes. Both GAF and Malarkey say so in their technical bulletins.
Granules are the gritty top layer that shields the asphalt from the sun and gives the shingle its color. At the factory, makers press in more than the shingle needs so the coverage is complete. The extras, which the trade calls hitchhikers or riders, fall off once the roof is on.
GAF says the loss is worst right after installation, tapers off over time, and is normal rather than a manufacturing defect. Malarkey says the shedding can last from six months to two years depending on climate, and does not affect how the shingles perform or how long they last.
GAF’s advice is to wait. Give it several months, because in its experience the problem fixes itself more often than not.
Could the granules be from my old roof?
They could. Malarkey points out that plenty of people replace the roof and keep the gutters, so the grit piled in them may have come off the shingles that were torn off.
Clean the gutters out once the new roof is finished. Whatever turns up after that is from the new shingles.
When do granules in the gutters mean the roof is wearing out?
When the roof is older and the grit keeps coming. One insurer’s homeowner guide calls granules in the gutters a stronger warning on a roof over 10 years old.
Some loss never stops. Malarkey says normal weather and daily heating and cooling shed a few granules throughout the life of a shingle, and that this is no cause for alarm.
Here is how the signs line up:
| What you see | Likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Fine grit in the gutters, roof under two years old | Spare factory granules | Wait several months and check again |
| A light sprinkle each spring, roof in good shape | Normal weathering | Nothing, beyond clean gutters |
| Piles at the downspouts, roof over 10 years old | Shingles near the end of their life | An inspection, and a look at replacement |
| A fresh pile right after a storm, dents on vents or gutters | Hail | Photos the same day, then an inspection |
| Dark bare patches or a roof changing color | Heavy granule loss | An inspection; on a young roof, call the maker |
For the other signs a roof is near the end, see how long a roof lasts in South Dakota.
Does hail knock granules off shingles?
Yes, and small hail does more of it than people expect. NOAA logged about 21 hail reports a year in Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner and McCook counties from 2015 to 2025, with May and August the busiest months.
A study by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, published in late 2025, hit shingles with repeated hail under an inch, then left them out in the weather. Small hail caused most of the granule loss. The granules knocked off by many small stones added up to more than one 2-inch stone took, and after two years of this the test shingles performed like ones a decade old.
So a pile of grit after a storm of hail under an inch is worth a look. Read what hail damage looks like on a Sioux Falls roof for the bruises and dents that go with it.
What do bare spots on my shingles mean?
The shingle has lost its sun shield there. Once the granules are gone, the asphalt underneath bakes in the sun and turns brittle faster.
Look from the ground or an upstairs window for dark patches, a shingle that looks smooth instead of gritty, or a roof that has started to change color in places.
On a young roof with no storm to blame, the makers want to hear about it. Malarkey says to contact its warranty department about bare spots that show up without unusual weather, and GAF says to call if, months after the install, the loss is still heavy or the roof changes color. Malarkey adds that high winds, hail, ice dams and poor attic ventilation can all strip granules, so the attic belongs in the check. Read how much venting a Sioux Falls attic needs.
What should I photograph?
The grit and the roof, on the day you find it. Your phone puts the date on every photo, and that date matters if a claim follows.
- The gutter and the ground under each downspout, with something for scale like a coin or your hand
- Any bare or dark patches, from the ground or a window
- Dents in gutters, downspouts, vents and window screens after a storm
- The whole roof from each side of the house
Shoot from the ground. Stay off the roof, above all when it is wet.
A contractor’s roof inspection with a written report puts all of it on paper.
Will insurance pay for granule loss?
If a storm caused it, it may. If age caused it, almost certainly not.
The fight is over which one it was. An insurance defense attorney answered the 2025 small hail study by comparing that damage to sun and rain, the kind of long-term wear and tear that policies can exclude. Roof endorsements that pay actual cash value can also leave out cosmetic damage and wear and tear, and one South Dakota insurer pays only actual cash value on wind and hail losses once a roof is 10 years or older (2024).
The shingle warranty is a separate thing. GAF’s warranty covers manufacturing defects and does not cover the patchy look left by light to moderate granule loss.
Before you file, read how roof claims work in South Dakota.
Questions about granules in gutters
Is it normal to lose granules on a new roof?
Yes. GAF and Malarkey both say spare factory granules wash off after installation, and Malarkey says it can take six months to two years without affecting the shingles.
How many granules in the gutter is too many?
Neither maker gives a number. Heavy loss that keeps coming months after a new roof, bare patches, or a roof changing color are the signs to act on.
Does granule loss mean I need a new roof?
Not on its own. On a roof over 10 years old with bare spots it often points that way, and an inspection tells you for sure.
Can small hail cause granule loss?
Yes. A 2025 IBHS study found small hail caused most of the granule loss in its tests and made shingles age faster.
Does a shingle warranty cover granule loss?
Only when a manufacturing defect causes severe loss. GAF’s warranty does not cover the uneven look from light to moderate loss.
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