4 Tell-Tale Signs Your Roof May Need to Be Replaced
Your roof one of those things you don’t think about that often, until it’s too late or or a hail storm sweeps through the neighborhood. A strong, watertight roof keeps your home from all sorts of damage. When deciding whether or not you need to replace your roof, it’s important to first consider a few key factors.
Lost, missing, or loose shingles: You can make a basic visual inspection of your roof from the safety of the ground by walking around the perimeter of your home. Check the area surrounding your roof for fallen shingles and pockets of missing shingles on your roof. Missing shingles can be an indicator that your roof might be deteriorating or have been affected by strong winds or hail damage.
Deck sheathing: If all safety precautions are in place, walk on your roof and use your feet to feel if there are any spongy or soft areas on your roof. This could signify soft or rotten boards under your roofing shingles which, in the event of a roof replacement, would also have to be replaced as well. Another possibility is that they used 5/16 underlayment, which was code approved using h clips, but has resulted in the roof sagging in between joists, which are the rafters that frame your roof. Some cities will allow this sheathing to stay as part of your roof replacement, but use your judgement on whether or not to add more sheathing or replacing it altogether for not just a better looking roof, but a safer, stronger structure.
Presence of asphalt granules in your gutters: Check your gutters to see if there are black grains of asphalt in your gutters. If present, it could mean that your shingles are starting to disintegrate. This is very common with organic shingles, which have been phased out of manufacturing. Organic shingles can deteriorate much quicker and often curl often giving one side of the roof a baked appearance. Usually in these cases, the roof is still water tight, but will need replacement soon.
Shingle age: Most asphalt shingle roofs should last between 15 to 20 years. Even if your roof doesn’t appear to have extensive damage on the surface, when the age of your roof nears these benchmarks, consider getting an inspection from an expert. This will help identify any underlying, non-visible problems that might require a roof repair or replacement.
Hiring a professional can help you to get a more comprehensive evaluation of your roof. A professional with integrity won’t shy away from telling you that your roof has a few to 10 years left on the shingles. They may recommend full roof replacement or just some repairs to keep costs down until a full roof replacement is needed. Make sure to always get an inspection from a few professionals to determine the severity and extent of the problem. Obviously, we’d really appreciate being one of those companies you’d consider.