How To Tell If Your Roof Needs Replacing

Snow and rain flow through valleys and into gutters.

How to tell if your roof needs replacing.

If your roof is nearing its typical replacement age you should probably start thinking about your next roof. The roof is arguably the most important component of your house. Clean it off to assess the shingles beneath. Valleys are one of the most important areas of your roof.

The roof just looks old and worn. The main thing to look for with asphalt roofing is granule loss. If previous roof repairs were installed over the top of your existing roof a practice known as overlaying you should definitely think about a roof replacement. While many shingles today are produced for durability many factors can accelerate the aging of shingles.

If your roof shingles are falling apart or missing in this area it s a definite sign you need a new roof. If the valley is compromised you could be susceptible to roof leaks. Age of the roof no roof will last forever so if your roof has undergone damage and is older in age it may be time for a replacement. If you ve lived in your home for a long time you may know your roof s age.

If you live in a development and your neighbors are all starting to replace their roofing that could be a sign that you should do the same. One easy way to be sure you need a roof replacement is if your roof is older than 20 years old. If not keep an eye out for your neighbor s getting roof replacements. Loose or missing shingles curling edges or rot are also clear signs that roof replacement is near.

If your roof is nearing this age spending money on a repair job can sometimes prove futile in the long run. A typical roof should last roughly 15 to 20 years. Visible signs of aging on a 3 tab asphalt shingle roof. And while nobody likes having to pay to replace a roof the critical and aesthetic function it serves should help ease the pain of spending 8 000 to 20 000 on the work.

For example if your roof is not properly ventilated it can negatively impact your shingles. Knowing when a roof was installed and what it s made of offers insight into how much life it has left. Review your home improvement records to see how long ago the roof was replaced or reshingled. After all it keeps water out of the building.