Telltale Signs You Need a New Roof
A robust roof gives you and your loved ones safety and protection from adverse weather elements.
Roofs are continually exposed to weather elements such as freezing temperatures, ripping winds, pounding rain, and baking sun. These elements lead to the wearing out of this vital protective cover.
While some roofing materials can last over 25 years, shingles eventually bend, age, tear, break, or simply fall apart.
Sometimes if the damage is minor, a roof repair can suffice. Nevertheless, if you notice any of the following signs, it is an indication that you need to replace your roof.
Shingles in bad shape
If one or two shingles are missing from the roof, it is not a big issue as you can replace them without ripping off and replacing your entire roof. However, you should be concerned if more than a dozen shingles are missing from your roof or if you notice several singles that are cracked, curling, or missing too many granules. If the roof shingles are not in a good state, chances are your roof needs replacement.
Your roof is old
The life span of a roof depends on the roofing material. According to the IACHI and HUD, the life spans of various roofing materials are as follows:
- Wood shingles: 25–30 years
- Asphalt shingles: 20–50 years
- Slate: 60–175 years
- Concrete/ clay tile: 50–100 years
- Metal: 40–80 years. However, Copper can last over 70 years, while zinc can last about 100 years.
If your roof nears its life span, you should consider contacting a roofing contractor to advise you on an estimate for roof replacement.
Exterior Damage
Even if you do not consider your roof old, it is advisable to carry out an occasional inspection to check for worrying damage. If the roof has wooden or asphalt shingles, external damage can take the form of buckling or curling, missing, or warped shingles. If your roofing material is a metal, rubber, slate, concrete, or clay tile, check for spots that appear cracked or thin, dented or worn areas, or missing pieces.
As you inspect the roof, pay attention to regions more susceptible to damage. These include the valleys and the slopes. As a crucial part of the roof, valleys lead water runoff into gutters, and if there is damage in your valleys, the roof is susceptible to leaks.
Droopy or saggy spots
Saggy or droopy spots signify that moisture has weakened the decking, and your roof requires replacement.
Damaged chimney flashing
Flashing is a roofing material that provides a water-tight seal around penetrations such as the chimney. Usually made of steel or aluminum, the flashing can last over 30 years. However, rusted or cracked flashing can cause water to leak into the chimney.
Rays of light entering the attic
You should not see sunlight coming through the roof boards, and if you do, it is an indication that your roof needs attention. While inspecting your attic, check also for signs of moisture. Moisture stains on your roof boards are indicative of a leaking roof.
Categorised in: Roofing Contractor
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