The biggest investment you will likely ever make is in your home. Therefore, it’s crucial to safeguard that investment. Your roof literally offers the most protection for your house. Your roof shields your house from the elements and guards against harm to the building’s structure. Your entire house may be in danger if the roof begins to deteriorate due to the environment. To keep your house safe, become familiar with these warning signs that indicate it’s time to replace your roof.
1. Your roof is almost 25 years old.
The lifespan of a shingle roof might range from 10 to 50 years. A roof’s longevity is significantly influenced by maintenance, but the weather is perhaps the most important aspect. An asphalt roof’s lifespan also heavily depends on the shingles’ quality. An ordinary asphalt roof, however, begins to deteriorate rapidly 20 to 25 years after installation. If your roof has further issues and is getting close to 25 years old, it might be time to think about replacing it.
What your neighbors are doing is another indicator to watch for. Take notice if you see a lot of your neighbors replacing their roofs. Those houses were probably constructed at the same time as yours, and they undoubtedly had to endure the same weather. Your roof may soon follow if their roofs are failing. It makes sense to at least get your roof inspected if you observe a lot of newly installed roofs in your neighborhood.
2. Cracked and Curling Shingles
Curling and cracking are signs that the weather has done damage to the roof. If you see a lot of damage to your shingles and your roof is about 20 years old, it doesn’t mean that your roof is broken. It just means that it is getting old and will probably need to be replaced in one to five years.
Curling can be carried out in two different ways. When shingles start to cup, the edges start to curl up, which makes the shingles start to look like a cup. Clawing is when the middle of a shingle starts to rise. In either case, a curling shingle makes it possible for water to get through to your roof deck and cause a leak. If only a few shingles are curling, you may be able to replace them. But if you see curled shingles all over your roof, you will need a roof replacement soon.
Wind damage frequently results in cracking. You might need to replace a section of damaged shingles if a specific event, like a violent storm, caused wind damage. But if your roof is cracking all over, your roof is likely nearing the end of its useful life. Like curling, cracking gives water a chance to get underneath the shingles and into your decking, attic, and house. It is advisable to get your roof inspected and perhaps replaced before any significant damage occurs to your house.
3. Bald Spots and Missing Granules
Small stone grains, which resemble a thin layer of gravel, are applied to the surface of asphalt shingles. These granules carry out an essential task. The material behind the granules, called asphalt paper, can withstand sunshine quite well. The heat from the sun and the UV rays can scorch and deteriorate the asphalt. This may eventually result in holes or thin areas. Thankfully, the granules that cover asphalt shingles shield the asphalt from the sun’s damaging rays. However, those granules may begin to separate, and your roof will immediately start to fall apart if that occurs.
Granules can become loose for a number of reasons. The first is harm via hail or debris from a storm. Granules might be loosened by any force on the roof. Look at the roof and check for hail damage if there has been a significant hailstorm. You can avoid more involved repairs by identifying minor pocks where the granules have been broken loose and replacing those shingles. Examine the shingles for damage if branches or other debris have fallen and hit the roof.
Age itself can also result in loose granules. The granules that cover your asphalt roof will become looser over time due to weather, heat, and cold. Examining the gutters is one technique to look for loose granules without going over the entire roof. If there are any loose granules, the water that is flowing from your roof may pick them up and they may wind up in your gutters. Granules in the gutters all throughout your roof likely indicate serious damage.
4. Light coming through the roof boards
You must climb to your attic to inspect this kind of damage. Crawl up into your attic on a sunny day, and just look up. If you notice any light streaming through the roof, you should check for leaks right away. If the damage has progressed to this point, your shingles likely have major issues, but there could be other reasons. If the air in your attic seems warm and muggy, the ventilation needs to be improved. As a result of inadequate ventilation, the roof’s underlayment or shingles can rot and the decking can become twisted.
Check the attic’s insulation as well. You already have a leak if the insulation is damp or shows signs of water damage. As soon as you can, have your roof inspected to prevent more harm.
We hope that this article gives you a better idea of what to expect when it’s time to replace your roof. If you live in any of our service areas such as Kilgore, Canton, and Longview give us a call! Noble Roofing is a local, preferred contractor that installs high-quality roofing systems for commercial and residential buildings in the area. Please contact us if you have any queries or to obtain a free quote.
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