It’s only natural for your roof to reach the end of its useful life. As it protects you and your home, it will encounter many factors that will affect its lifespan, such as time and harsh weather conditions. You can prolong its life span through repairs and preventative maintenance, but the time will come when it will need a roof.
Knowing if you need to do a roof replacement or repair is difficult, especially if you don’t know where to start. Of course, you can contact a reliable local roofing contractor to do the job, but you can see for yourself if your roof needs some love by checking if it shows some signs of replacement.
The warning signs below will tell you if your roof needs replacement or not.
Damaged, Missing, or Curled Shingles
Shingles are supposed to lie flat on your roof to provide full coverage. If you see curling shingles, it’d be best to get it checked immediately. Shingles may curl for many reasons, such as old age, improper installation, and moisture build-up, especially if the attic is not adequately ventilated. Asphalt shingles tend to dry out during the years, making an asphalt shingle roof more susceptible to this kind of damage.
Damaged or missing shingles are also a clear indication that your roof needs replacement; they can’t protect your home correctly. They may cause problems such as a leaky roof, which can be incredibly annoying.
Your Roof is Old
If your roof is 20 years old or above, it needs replacement because it can cause problems that can pose risks for your family and your property. An old roof is more susceptible to damage, causes poor ventilation, and can even increase your utility bills.
You can check your roof’s age by consulting its paper trail to see when was the last time the professionals installed the latest roof. If you can’t find out how old your roof is, you should check if your neighbors are starting to replace their roofs, as they experience the same weather patterns.
Dark Streaks
The black streaks on your roof may seem like an unsightly issue, but it’s also an indication of something more serious. These streaks are caused by an airborne algae-like bacteria called Gloeocapsa Magma . Luckily, you can easily clean it with a mixture of bleach and water. However, caution is advised because the combination may damage your property’s landscape.
These roof-killing algae may not look like a threat. Still, when left untreated, they will eat away your shingle’s limestone filler and cause damage both to your shingles and your house’s curbside appeal.
Moss Growth
While it may look good in gardens, the presence of moss on your roof spells trouble because clay and concrete tiles are highly susceptible to moss growth . The roof’s frequent rain exposure makes it an excellent place to root down and spread.
Moss tends to hold trapped moisture against the roof and can cause future problems like damaged and leaking roof if not adequately attended to. Luckily, you can easily remove it using the same bleach and water mixture used to remove dark roof streaks and through careful brushing.
Wind and Hail Damage
Florida is known for its hurricanes and hail , two of the most notorious causes of severe roof damage in the state. Harsh winds can lift shingles, along with their sealants and nails. On the other hand, hail can dent shingles, cause granule loss, and accelerate deterioration.
If your roof sustained any of these two, go and check it immediately to see if the damages they caused are repairable or not. If the damages are minor, you can get someone to repair them, but if it sustained significant damage, the exposed area of your roof is at risk for further damage and leakage.
Missing Granules
Granule loss is normal when it comes to shingles. The primary purpose of shingle granules is to protect both the shingle and the roof, especially from harsh weather conditions. What you need to worry about is if there are more bald spots on your roof than usual.
The number of shingle granules remaining will determine if you need to replace your roof or not. So if you see more bald spots or patches on your roof, check it out or call your local roofing contractor and schedule a roofing inspection.
Gutter Build Up
The gutter’s primary purpose is to redirect the flow of water away from your home. However, it can’t properly function if it’s clogged or if there’s a build-up along its path. Gutter build-up may be as simple as a clump of mud or accumulated leaves from nearby trees.
Suppose you see roofing materials like granules or broken shingles blocking the gutter. In that case, your roof may already be due for a full replacement. If left unchecked, these blockages will cause the roof to leak or rapidly decay and lead to other serious problems such as ceiling damage or insect infestation.
Leakage or Water Damage
Sometimes, you don’t need to inspect the entire roof for signs; just check your ceiling! If your ceiling is sagging, there’s trapped moisture in there. Use a broomstick or touch the sagging part of the ceiling to identify what the problem is; if it feels wet and soggy, it’s likely moist from a leak.
And where do you think the leak is coming from? That’s right, from the roof! A sagging ceiling is a serious problem, and you should call a roofing company immediately before it escalates even further.
Bad Chimney Flashing
Chimney flashing is a waterproof seal that protects you against water damage and penetration. However, they can get damaged over time, especially if the flashings are made from tar or cement-like those on roofs of old houses.
The flashes around the chimney’s base are prone to leaking and can signify that you need a new roof. But most of the time, replacing the existing flashing with one made from durable steel is enough to fix the problem.
Light Is Passing Through the Roof
It’s normal to see lights from the outside whenever you enter your attic, ONLY if it comes from sources like the roof ridges. However, if those streaks or flashes of daylight were from the roof, then chances are your roof has missing shingles and therefore has holes on it.
A rotting roof tends to create such holes, large enough to let moisture enter your house and cause water damage immediately if not taken care of.
Sagging Roof
A sagging roof doesn’t always need replacement, but if you’ve left it in that state for a long time, the repair cost will be so expensive that it’s better to replace it. Once it sags too low, it can cause severe damage to your property and potentially injure your family.
It can even cause death to anyone unfortunate enough to catch the falling debris. A sagging roof is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed by a professional, so contact a contractor to inspect it immediately.
Improper Installation
You can look for signs for a roof replacement all day, only to find out that it’s due to human error or, more specifically, improper installation. Shingles that were awkwardly placed tend to deteriorate faster than they should, which you can blame for bad craftsmanship on the contractor’s part.
A roof that’s not properly installed may reduce its lifespan and cause other problems like roof leaks. If you think the previous contractor did a pretty lousy job with your roof, you should look for a better one to deal with as soon as possible.
When is the Best Time to Replace Your Roof?
If you’re still asking yourself “how to know when to replace my roof” up to this point, you start scheduling a consultation with a roofing contractor. Yes, you can contact your local contractor any time of the year. However, it’s still best to get them at specific times to guarantee that your roofing project will proceed.
Choosing to get a new roof during summer is okay, but you have to make sure that you schedule your project as early in the summer as possible. This choice will allow the roofers to work in lower temperatures and less humid environments. Getting a new roof during fall is not advisable because it’s Florida’s hurricane season .
Spring and winter are arguably the best times to get yourself a new roof.
Springtime in Florida provides mild weather and temperature that can make roofing installation a breeze. However, spring can be a busy time for roofing companies, and you may find it challenging to schedule an appointment.
An excellent alternative to springtime would be during the winter months. The weather is pleasant and the air cool – but not freezing. Such weather is perfect for outdoor activities like a roofing installation. Roofing companies aren’t jam-packed with appointments. Any roofing material like roof shingles, roof cement, and roof boards tend to be delivered fast during the winter season.
