Photo courtesy of constructionlawsignal.com.
Winter is fast upon us with changing temperatures, humidity, and conditions. Before the first heavy snow or rain fall, a roof inspection could be a good preventative idea. Today’s blog is contributed by DiggersList user New Castle Remodeling’s Randy Mate with warning signs that indicate you might need a new roof.
Five Warning Signs That You Need A New Roof
By Randy Mate
Here are five warning signs that could tell you that your roof is ready to be replaced:
Please Note: Do not walk on your roof – it is dangerous. Check your roofs’ condition from the ground. If you’re having trouble seeing the roof surface, use some binoculars.
1. Granule Loss: The small granules on your roof play an important part in weatherproofing. They protect your roof from the sun’s ultraviolet rays and improve the roof’s water-shedding capabilities. If you can see black spots on your roof due to loss of these granules , it is time to re-roof.
Granule loss. Photo courtesy of nachi.org.
2. Missing Shingles: Roofs tend to age evenly. Having several shingles that are missing or broken means the uniformity of your roof’s protection value has most likely been lost. Shingles that are torn or missing allow the roof structure to be quite susceptible to water damage and rot. This can also cause good shingles nearby to start a domino effect of wind and rain damage.
Missing shingles. Photo courtesy of newroofcost.com.
3. Curls or Cracks: As shingles near the end of their useful life, they may noticeably curl, split and lose their water resistance. A quick scan of your roof is usually all it takes to detect these obvious signs of aging. Because the sun’s ultraviolet rays cause the most damage to roofing surfaces, signs of deterioration are likely to first show up on the western and southern exposures of your roof.
Curling. Photo courtesy of alessandropelle.girlshopes.com.
Cracks. Photo courtesy of roofbrokersinc.com.
4. Leaks: A fairly new roof that has a localized leak should probably only need the roofing repaired, not replaced. However, if you see several leaks or stains and wet spots on the underside of the roof deck or on rafters in the attic space, a new roof should be a number one priority.
Leaks. Note: Some leaks can be identified before they occur or early on by checking the flashing, making sure each overlap the shingle below it. Photo courtesy of roofer911.com.
Ceiling leak. Photo courtesy of mastermylist.com.
5. Overall Age: Generally, asphalt shingles have a life of 20-50 years, depending on what they’re made of, weather conditions, quality of installation and regular maintenance. If your roof is approximately 20 years old, it should be visually inspected every Fall for any signs of deterioration. Because asphalt shingles age gradually, homeowners have plenty of time to consider replacement options once it comes time to re-roof. The key is to replace the roof before it is worn out and you are forced into a hasty decision or it causes further damage to the inside of your home.
Aging roof. Photo courtesy of smallloadsdelivery.com.
