Five Signs Your Roof Needs Replacing
No one likes to hear that their roof needs replacement. A repair here and there doesn’t feel too bad. But an entire roof replacement? That is a substantial investment, so most homeowners want to know they aren’t unnecessarily replacing a roof too soon. A checklist of telltale signs is a good place to start.
What to Look for if Your Roof Needs Replacing
- Age of your roof
If your roof is made of clay or slate tiles, you should be able to count on the reliability of that roof for decades longer than conventional asphalt or composite shingles. Tile roofs can last for a hundred years or more. Shingles, however, are a different matter. Many companies offer come a variety of promises as to how long their product will last. In most cases, 20 years will be the limit.
- Cracked or curling shingles
As shingles age, with exposure to the elements, they can dry out and become brittle. Since shingles are a combination of a base of cellulose or fiberglass and asphalt with mineral granules, when weakened, the granules are slowly washed away. Imagine the shingles as your home’s outer skin drying out, with the sun and wind causing the shingles to crack and curl. If it only happens to a small area, a repair can fix it. However, as a roof ages, it can affect the entire roof, indicating a roof replacement is needed.
- Missing or torn shingles
If you look up at your roof and see areas where your shingles are torn away or missing in patches, that is an indication that either a major repair is needed, or possibly a roof replacement. If the damaged area is because of tree limbs or other vegetation dragging along the shingles, it may have little to do with the reliability of the rest of your roof. If the torn or missing shingles can be seen in several weathered patches along the entire roof, you’ll be safer to assume all the roofing material is aging and in need of replacement.
- Water stains inside your home
Have you ever looked up in your home and seen a gray stain in the middle of a ceiling or where a ceiling meets a wall? A roof leak is never a welcome sight but caught early enough you might get by with a repair. Unfortunately, where the rain puddles in your attic or crawl space is not always where the leak in the roof originates. Finding the cause of the leak and the extent of the real damage can help to determine if your roof is sound or is succumbing to the elements.
- Roof replacements on your block
Don’t think of this as keeping up with the Joneses, so much as tracking maintenance schedules dictated by when homes in your neighborhood were built. Many of us live in areas that had housing developments created as entire neighborhoods and it stands to reason, the roofs will need to be replaced around the same time.
Before making any radical decisions, it is a good rule of thumb to have your roof inspected by a professional. If a roof replacement is indicated, be sure to get an estimate for a roof repair or replacement from at least three sources. These can vary widely, so review estimates carefully, question anything you don’t understand and ask for details so you know you are getting cost estimates for the same type of materials and labor.
If you have questions, or would like to schedule a roof inspection, please contact us. One of our professionals will be happy to help you.
