How To Tell Your Roof Needs To Be Replaced

A solid roof is vital to a structurally sound home. Many homeowners are unsure when their roof should be replaced, and this can be dangerous. Damaged roofs can cause many problems that are easy to avoid. Fortunately, some signs tell you a replacement is necessary.

Your Roof Is 25 Years Old

Most residential roofs have asphalt shingles that have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. If your roof has these shingles and is close to 25 years old, you need to look at replacing it. While the roof may be sound, you generally have 5 to 10 years left before serious problems arise.

If your home is in a development area and your neighbors are starting to replace their roofs, you should do the same. It is better to be proactive than to face the damage caused by poor roof structures. If you have just purchased the house, you need to find out from the seller when the roof was installed.

Shingles Are Missing

Missing shingles does not always require a complete roof replacement. You can replace a few shingles here and there when they are missing. The problem is the checkerboard effect this will cause.

It is almost impossible to match the color of your new shingles to your old ones. This will leave you with patches of darker colors throughout your roof. If you have no problem with this, you can patch the missing shingles until there is a larger problem with the roof. If the patchwork pattern does not sit well with you, a replacing the roof will be the only option.

Granules In Your Gutters

When you clean your gutters, do you see a lot of granules from the roof? If you have a new asphalt roof, this is not something to worry about because the granules are the extras and will stop on their own. If you have an older roof, this is a sign of serious issues.

Granules protect the shingles from the sun, and when they fall off the shingles start to bake. Baking shingles will deteriorate quickly, leading to leaks and curling. If you have just started noticing the granules in the gutter, your shingles are halfway through their life, and you do not have to worry. If this has occurred since a prolonged time or the granules are increasing, you need to call someone like Panama City Roofing for a roof replacement.

Curling Shingles

Shingles curl in two ways, but both are signs that roof problems are close. Some shingles will cut, which is when the edges of the shingles turn up and form a cup. Other shingles will go through clawing where the edges are flat, but the middle rises. If you notice curling, you need to think about a roof replacement seriously. If the curling has only just started, you have 1 to 5 years left on your roof. Leaving these shingles will result in leaks, which causes additional damage to your home.

Cracked Shingles

Wind damage is a common cause of cracked shingles in Panama city and Florida. As with missing shingles, you can replace the cracked ones with new shingles. This should only be considered if the cracking is isolated to one area of the roof.

If you have cracked shingles scattered across the roof, this is a sign of deeper problems. You will need to replace your roof when this happens and soon. Generally, you will have 3 to 5 years left before serious issues start to appear.

Sunlight In The Attic

One of the ways to check if you need a roof replacement is to go to the attic and look for light or other damage. If you can see sunlight, your roof is leaking, and you could have additional water damage. You will need to look for water damage if you see the light and then call a roofer.

To determine if you need a replacement, you need to look at the size of the leak. Small leaks can often be patched, but larger ones require a replacement. The age of the roof and any structural damage will also need to be taken into account.

The Roof Is Sagging

If you notice your roof sagging, you need to replace your roof as soon as possible. A sagging roof is a potential sign of structural issues in the decking or the roof foundation supports. While you are not in immediate danger of your roof collapsing, this is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately.

If one section of the roof is starting to sag, you should call a roofer for a replacement. It would be best if you did not leave this because you are allowing the problem to become worse.

Replacing your roof is a considerable expense, but it is something that you need to do at times. To determine if you need a replacement or can repair your roof, you need to consider the problem. A professional roofer should be able to assess the roof and detail all your options.