As a homeowner, managing your house and being sure it remains up to code at all times is one of your more important responsibilities. Like most life investments, a property necessitates maintenance as years go on to ensure maximum comfort and safety. If you have been in your home for fifteen years or more, there’s a high likelihood you have mulled over investing in a shingle roof replacement. However, before moving forward with the decision to install a new roof, there are some warning signs to keep an eye out for to figure out whether or not the time is correct for you and your home.
With only a tiny amount of research, you’ve more than likely crossed the” 20″ year rule for replacing your roof. That figure is utilizied as a benchmark. Most residential roofs need replacing during that timeframe. But, there are quite a few factors at play, and all roofs are unique.
All roofs take a lot of external wear and tear with every year that flys by. Direct sunlight, powerful winds, flying trees, vermin, tropical storms, rain, or dangerous weather conditions – all of these directly affect a roof’s lifespan. How quickly your roof needs to be replaced depends on several things:
What kind of weather is experienced.
Proper maintenance and preservation.
How old the materials are.
How good the materials used are.
Building and design.
Were repairs addressed when needed?
If wildlife was kept away.
External debris buildup.
Consider Your Roof’s Age
Typically an asphalt shingle roof has a lifespan of about 10-20 years. Metal or tile roofs tend to have a far longer lifespan. If your roof is approaching its average replacement age, you should start thinking about a roof replacement. In addition, if other roof repairs were placed over the top of your pre-existing roof – a practice called overlaying – you should be thinking about a roof replacement. Overlaying is a patch job that can hide bigger roofing issues underneath the shingle surface.
Begin By Inspecting Your Roof From the Inside Out
The first step is to scoop up a flashlight and get to the attic for all intents and purposes. Make sure you grab a flashlight with a powerful beam to make sure no damage is overlooked, and always take proper safety protocols as you go through these kinds of inspections.
Upon arriving in your attic, see if you can identify one (or several) of these four signs that you need to replace the roof:
1) Sunlight Shining In Through The Roof
Before you turn your flashlight on, try and spot any beams of light coming through breaks or holes in your roof. If the light is spotted shining through your roof, fix it or replace your roof right away. If the light is getting through your roof, then water is also leaking into your roof.
2) Dark Streaks & Stains
This one is also relatively easy to identify. If you see dark stains or dark streaks on the underside of your roof or running down the walls from the base of your roof, then your roof is likely leaking, and moisture is causing damage to both your roof plus your home’s interior structure.
3) Sagging Areas
Much like how a soggy cardboard is weak, water can also make the structure of your roof start to sag. If you notice sagging areas in your roof, use your hand or a stick to carefully prod at the sagging spot. If the spot is wet or bends easily with a touch of your stick, you know you have moisture damage.
4) Leaks
In addition to checking for dark streaks and saggy spots, make sure to check for any present indications of water leaking or rotting your roof on the inside. If you see any clear signs of water damage, it’s advisable to call a roofer to inspect your roof immediately.
Missing, Loose, Or Cracked Shingles
Inspecting your roof’s shingles is another way to determine whether or not your roof requires additional attention or a replacement entirely. When checking out the exterior shingles on your home’s roof, be sure to look for any cracks, misshapen shingles, or shingles that have warped or bent upwards.
Asphalt that is warped, cracked, or misshapen may require a further inspection to identify whether or not they can be replaced individually or if the wiser choice is investing in an entirely new roof.
Locating small granules on your roof or building up in your gutter can also be an indicator that the time has come for a complete and thorough roof replacement. Large amounts of asphalt granule loss is a major sign that the roof’s condition is not where it needs to be to ensure maximum protection and insulation for your home.
Excessive Growths On Your Roof
Moss begins growing on roofs that don’t get a lot of sunlight, particularly in cool and moist climates. Moss holds moisture against the surface, which can result in damage.
Have you seen moss or other types of natural growth on top or out of your roof? If so, don’t worry. Nature has a tendency to grow over any man-made building in its path if it is not adequately looked after and maintained.
When examining your roof and the moss you have spotted, make sure to do so by examining both the interior and exterior of your roof. While most plant growths are likely to be noticed from the outside of your roof, when there’s a larger problem on deck, nature may also be showing up on its own inside the attic with you having zero clue.
In many situations, eliminating the algae from a roof is a way to rapidly fix the problem without further investments or repairs. However, suppose you notice excessive growths on your roof or inside the property. In that case, it is highly advisable to call a roofing contractor to identify the root cause and reason for the growth.
In the event the roof is just completely overgrown, then the sole course of action would be to get a new roof; this only happens to roofs that are unattended for long periods of time.
Fortunately, algae growth and buildup are not usually indicators that you must fix or replace your roof. Rather, algae is moreso an eyesore on your roof and one that is quite common in hot places like Southern Florida.
If you do require a full roof replacement, in the end, there then becomes a number of decisions that need to be made. Beginning with the roofing material to use, will you stick with asphalt or consider metal? Which roofing contractor will you hire? Whether there’s a valid insurance damage claim. For many people having the money required in the bank to get a new roof may not be possible. There are financing options available for homeowners offered by the most reputable roofing contractors. Ensure to do due diligence prior to choosing a roofing company.
