Top tell-tale signs it’s time to replace your roof, Property roof contractor, Building home maintenance
Top 7 Tell-tale Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Roof
6 Nov 2023
The roof is your home’s first line of defence against natural elements, giving you and your family protection and shelter.
Your roof also helps regulate the temperature in your home, making it more energy-efficient and reducing your heating and cooling costs.
Lastly, your roof defines your home’s style regardless of its type and design, contributing to its overall visual appeal.
But regardless of the type of roof you have, it won’t last forever. According to providers of expert roofing services, this home fixture has an average lifespan of 30 years.
Without proper maintenance, it can show signs of wear and tear and lose its structural integrity in less time.
However, there may be instances wherein you need to replace your roof immediately.
This article discusses seven signs that indicate it’s time to replace your roof as soon as possible.
When to Replace Your Roof
Below are seven tell-tale signs that indicate you need to replace your roof:
1. Leaks
Water leakage is the most obvious sign that indicates you need to replace your roof.
Be on the lookout for moisture buildup, water trails and dark spots or stains on your ceiling and walls. These signs indicate your roof is damaged and water is seeping into your home.
If you see these signs in just one area of your home, a roof repair may solve this problem.
However, if you see these signs in nearly all areas of your home, the best option is to have your roof replaced.
When you see any signs of a leaking roof, don’t delay having it assessed, repaired or replaced. If you do, you can end up facing bigger problems, particularly if the leakage gets into the wooden beams of your home.
2. Sagging
A sagging roof is one of the urgent signs that indicate you need a new installation.
Sagging is usually caused by water pooling up in a specific area, which weakens the roof and finds its way into your ceiling. This issue can also arise from poor design, broken rafters and subpar roofing installation.
Houses over 20 years old are more likely to develop this problem since some old roofing materials are not as durable and water-resistant as the newer ones.
Sagging usually signifies serious structural damage and requires a complete roof replacement.
3. Cracked and missing tiles
Concrete and terracotta roof tiles tend to get brittle or weaker with age. Because of this, they crack or completely break off over time, which can cause water to leak into your home.
Additionally, broken and missing tiles can affect your roof’s insulation properties. When you have these issues, you may feel colder or hotter than usual indoors and you will notice an increase in your utility bills.
If you want to be sure you have damaged or missing tiles, avoid climbing onto the roof since it may already be compromised and present some safety risks.
It is best to have roofing contractors check and assess the damage and ask them if you need to have your roof completely replaced or if they can repair the broken tiles.
4. Buckling, curling and clawing shingles
Buckling shingles appear as raised, distorted, or uneven sections on the roof. This issue usually happens because of improper roofing installation or ventilation problems.
On the other hand, curling and cupping shingles look similar, with the tiles peeling away from their original position and starting to curve upwards.
Clawing happens when the centres of the shingles start lifting while their ends stay attached to the roof.
If you see any of these issues, your roof is likely nearing the end of its life and you need to have it replaced.
5. Missing shingles
One or two missing shingles are usually something you don’t have to worry about. However, this is a sign you shouldn’t ignore as well.
Since shingles protect your roof and home from the elements, even a single missing one can create an entry point for water, wind, dirt and debris.
If your roof has several missing shingles, it is often a sign that its structural integrity may be compromised.
Talk with your roofing contractor if replacing the missing shingles with new ones is still a viable option. If not, you may have to invest in a complete roof replacement.
6. Old roof flashings
Flashings prevent water from seeping into joints and intersections of a roof. It is installed in places where different roofing materials meet and in areas with openings, such as around chimneys, vents and skylights.
This fixture creates a waterproof barrier that directs water away from vulnerable areas of the roof to prevent leaks and potential water damage.
If your flashings are made of asphalt or tar and are broken, loose or deteriorating, they won’t be able to prevent water from seeping into your roof’s openings, joints and intersections. And this issue will cause more problems for your home.
In this instance, consider investing in a roof replacement and have a metal flashing system installed so that you will have fixtures that can prevent leaks for a long time.
7. Age of the roof
Like the other components of your home, your roof has a limited lifespan.
For instance, an asphalt shingle roof typically lasts around 15 to 30 years, while metal roofing has a lifespan of 20 to 50 years.
If your roof is approaching or has surpassed its expected lifespan, you may have to replace it immediately.
The older a roof gets, the more susceptible it becomes to cracks, leaks and other issues that compromise its structural integrity.
Investing in a new roof installation allows you to protect your home, improve its appeal and increase its value if you plan to sell it in the future.
As such, when you see signs that you need to replace your roof, avoid delaying it.
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