The roof is the most important and least thought about part of your home. While they require relatively little maintenance, when a leak develops it’s a costly and stressful installation process. We recommend the prevention is better than cure approach. If you notice any of the following ten signs, you need to get someone to come and look at your roof.
1. Your Roof is 20 Years Old
On average, a shingle roof has a life span of approximately 20 to 25 years. After this, the structure begins to weaken making it more likely that leaks will develop. The best way to find out how old your roof? Go and check your records. If you moved in and have never changed it yourself, you might need to do an inspection.
2. Check Your Shingles
The shingles should lie flat on the top of the roof. If any have become misshaped or out of line – especially after strong winds or a story – it might be time to get them replaced.
3. Your Roof Looks Like it’s Sinking
One of the biggest tell-tale signs of rot is the roof bowing in the centre. The wooden structures have weaken and the structure starts to collapse in on itself. If you notice this, you should call someone immediately. Without intervention, it might collapse leaving you with an enormous repair bill.
4. You Can See Daylight From Inside Your Attic
If you perform an interior inspection, look up and see if there’s any daylight coming in from outside. This is a sign that there’s a hole. And if light can get through, you can be certain that rainwater will too. If you tackle this problem in its early stages, you’ll avoid a potential catastrophe later on.
5. You Can See Dark Streaks on the Inside of Your Roof
When the inside part of your roof gets damp, you’ll start to see large stains developing. These streaks and stains at the moment are probably not significant. But if you leave them untreated, the wooden structure begins to rot. This can lead to the roof sagging like mentioned above and potentially collapse.
6. Moss and Algae Grow on Your Roof
Few people know that moss and algae have the ability to cause major structural damage to your roof. If you do see some on the shingles. You won’t need a new roof straight away. Over a lengthy period of time, they decay the shingles and wooden structure. The easiest solution is to get your hose pipe and wash them off.
7. Your Flashing Looks Damaged
The flashing surrounds the bottom of your chimney. When exposed to the elements, the metal begins to weaken and lose its protective properties. Examine your flashing visually. Any sign of weakness, you should call a roofer to help you repair. The damage is often because of a build-up of water and moisture.
8. You Notice Damage in the Roof Valley
This is the part of your roof where the two slopes meet forming an angle that looks like a valley. If you live in a climate that gets a lot of rain and snow, this area can quickly decay. It’s best to check for damage after heavy snow fall.
9. Shingle Granules are in Your Gutter
Shingle granules are the tiny grit-like surface that covers your shingles. If these start to wash off and fall into your drain, it might be a sign that your roof has water damage. While this isn’t urgent, it is something you should take into consideration with the other signs.
10. Shoddy Workmanship
Hiring the right company to do the job is imperative. If you get a contractor that doesn’t install your roof correctly, it needs replacing. You can easily spot a roof with bad workmanship. The shingles don’t look straight or there’s visible damage. If you leave it, water will soon start to leak into your attic. The best solution to this is spending the time to fully research who you hire to install your new roof.
Do You Need a New Roof?
If you notice any of the ten signs above, you probably need a new roof. When you don’t take care of it, water will eventually start to leak inside. This then leads to costly repair work in the future.