Your home’s roof is one of its most important features. There’s a reason the saying “putting a roof over your head” is so common. Your roof is what separates you and your family from the elements. Because of that, it often takes quite a beating.
If you live in the south, you must worry about consistent and strong ultraviolet rays from the sun beating down on your roof. Winter brings cold, rain and even some snow.
What are the signs it’s time to replace your roof? We’ll cover those below. We’ll also answer the question, “How do I know when I should replace my roof?”
Age
If your home’s roof is 20 or more years old, there’s a good chance it needs to be replaced. There are a few reasons for this. First, it could have been constructed with outdated materials. Second, it could have been laid over another even older roof. If your roof is over 15 years old, you should at least have it inspected to check its status and determine if it would make sense to replace it completely.
Light shines in
If you want to know the state of your roof, head up to your attic with a flashlight. From here, you can check the inside of your home’s roof. If you can see beams of light shining in between the boards, that means your home’s seal has been compromised and you’ll at least want an extensive inspection. If there’s no light shining through, you should still keep looking around.
Interior water damage
While up in your attic with your flashlight, check for water damage on its interior. You should be checking for signs of moisture that’s wormed its way in. This could be signified by streaks or stains that are gray, brown or yellow in color. Damp rafters inside your attic, pooling water or other evidence of leaks could indicate that it’s time to replace your roof as well. A trained roof inspector should be able to help you with the necessary next steps.
Sagging
If you own a home, you may have asked yourself, “How do I know when I should replace my roof?” One of the telltale signs that your roof needs replacement is if it sags. A sagging roof can be caused by structural problems, age, rot or some combination thereof. You can view your roof from different angles to see if it’s straight and flush all the way across. Trapped moisture can lead to drooping, so look in lower elevation areas or where water pools for evidence of sagging.
Shingle problems
What are the signs it’s time to replace your roof? Often, the wear of your shingles will be the first indicator that you need to have your roof replaced. Look for shingles that are missing, curled or buckling. If the shingles are still in place, look closer: They may have had some granules stripped off and blown away. You may only need to have new shingles put on, but an inspection may reveal that you need a new roof altogether. Call an expert just to be sure.
Call for your roof inspection today
When it comes to your home’s roof, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Call us at homepros to schedule a roof inspection. Our licensed contractors can check your roof and let you know if you need new shingles, minor repairs or a completely new roof.