Sometimes, the necessity for a new roof is not apparent until you experience water leaking inside your house. Your roof is one of the most critical areas in your home. It’s your first line of defense against natural elements. However, it’s one of the most inconspicuous areas you have too. You cannot see your roof unless you intentionally raise your head to check on it. Plus, not all homeowners have the luxury of time to get on their ladders and closely inspect the roof. This is one of the reasons many homeowners suffer from costly roof damage and repairs.
To avoid such expensive repairs, as a homeowner, you need to be aware of the signs that your roof is calling for a replacement. A well-maintained roof will not only save you from costly repairs, but will also provide you with sufficient protection. Additionally, a good quality roof can also help you save on your energy bills. Once your roof has reached its capacity, it can fail anytime or, worse, collapse on anything that’s beneath it.
With the possible dangers that could happen with a neglected roof, it’s essential to replace it when necessary. To do so, read on below for the four signs that a roof replacement must be done:
1) Leaking Roof
The most prominent sign that your roof is deteriorating is roof leaks. To check your roof for any existing leaks, head up to your attic with a flashlight, most preferably after a rainfall. It’s hard to identify a small leak when the weather is dry or hot. Make sure to cover all areas during inspection, especially the ones with the nails. Look for indications of water intrusion.
Aside from the attic, it’s also best if you check the outer part of your roof for any ice dams. Ice dams occur when the snow melts as it runs down the eaves and freezes again. Water can then run down towards your shingles and into your home, causing leaks.
If leaks are located in the confined areas of your roof, it’s best to call professional roofers such as Top Glaze so that they’ll be the ones to check on these closely. Delaying your roof repairs will only worsen the damage and can even cost you more.
2) Growth Of Greeneries
Another sign of a declining roof is when you see spots of green growing on it. Seeing greenery on your roof is definitely not a good sign. Those green mushes that you see can either be molds, moss, or mildew that’s grown for some time due to the presence of deposited water caused by plumbing problems or condensation issues. Not only can these growths weaken the quality of your roof, but these are also hazardous to your family’s health. Once you see moss on your roof, call your professional roofer immediately to rectify the situation as soon as possible.
3) Cracked Shingles
Wind can often cause your roof shingles to crack. If the cracks are only found on a couple or few of your shingles, you can still resolve them by replacing the cracked ones with new ones. However, if the cracks are on most of your shingles, this is a big sign that your roof needs replacement.
You can also check for cracks on your roof by going into your attic during the daytime. Once you’re there, turn off the lights and inspect your roof. See if there are any rays of light streaking in. If there is, it only means there’s an existing crack or hole on your ceiling that needs to be repaired as soon as possible. Call your roofing contractor to see if the cracks can still be repaired or if a complete roof replacement is needed.
4) Outdated Roof
As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to know how old your roof is and its roofing materials. This way, you’ll know when your roof is close to the end of its lifespan. The average lifespan of your roof is from 25 to 30 years, and that’s only if you were able to keep your roof in its top shape for as long as you can. Otherwise, once your roof has been around for 20 years or more, you may need to pay more attention to your roof and be prepared for a roof replacement anytime soon.
Wrapping Up
There may be circumstances when your roof can naturally deteriorate after a couple of decades without going through any signs of failure. That can be the case if you’ve always kept up with your roof’s maintenance and preventative repairs. However, if you always put off replacing your aged roof, it can also cause a major and costly problem. Thus, always look out for the signs mentioned above and call a professional roofer immediately before your roof totally fails.