Many homeowners spend very little time thinking about their roofs. The roofs are out of sight; hence, they are out of mind. However, a solid roof is crucial for a leak-free and cozy home, and failure to do necessary roof repairs in time may cause serious issues to your entire house structure. But how do you know it is time to install a new roof? Here are a few common warning signs that your roof needs replacement.
Old Roof
Although roof lifespans vary depending on various factors, including the roof quality, the installation, the number of shingle layers, the type of roof materials, and the roof repairs done, roofs generally last for about 20-25years. In fact, you’re likely to begin experiencing roof issues once the age of your roof crosses the 25-year mark. It is important to know the history of your house because it helps to determine the lifespan of your roof. If you’re buying an old house, you need to ask the seller about the age of the roof. This will help you to prepare for replacement in time.
Damaged Shingles
Shingled roofs are common in many homes. Typically, damaged shingles appear curled or buckled. Curled or buckled shingles are dangerous to your house because they expose the underneath woodwork to destructive elements, including sunrays and rain water. Typically, wood cannot withstand these elements for an extended period of time; hence, damaged shingles may cause a serious damage to the whole house within a very short period of time.
Although damaged shingles can easily be repaired without replacing the entire roof, it is important to inspect the area of the roof located directly underneath the damaged shingles for damages. According to roof experts, damaged shingles may result in a drastic temperature increase, causing the roof to age faster than normal. Hence, curled shingles are a sure sign that you need a new roof. Additionally, too old shingles necessitate roof replacement. You can know that shingles are too old if your roof gutters contain shingle particles.
Roof Leakage
Preventing rainwater from penetrating into the house is one of the main functions of a roof. In most cases, leaks are the first sign of roof failure. You can easily know that your roof has leaks if you see water spots on your ceiling board. Although minor leaks can easily be repaired by replacing any damaged shingles that cause leakages, failure to repair the leaks in time may worsen the situation, causing water spots to appear all over the ceiling board of your house. This makes it necessary to install a new roof.
Light Penetration
You can know that your roof needs replacement if the attic allows sunrays to pass through. Light penetration is a sign that your roof contains cracks or gaps. The gaps or cracks not only allow light penetration but also water leakages. When inspecting your roof for cracks or gaps, look for any signs of moisture in the roof insulation. Check the roof for any spongy or soft spots.
Presence of Mosses and Patches
Although many homeowners tend to think that mosses cannot cause any serious damage to a roof, the plants have the ability to seriously damage roofs. Mosses damage roofs by holding moisture. When your roof holds moisture for an extended period of time, shingle wreckage may occur, exposing your house to water leakages and other destructive elements. It is advisable to remove any mosses from your roof as soon as they appear to prevent the roof from further damages. However, this problem may only affect houses located in cooler regions where mosses thrive.
You can also know that you need a new roof if some sections of your roof have missing tiles or patches. Patches render your roof vulnerable to destructive elements, causing the roof to age faster. In most cases, a patch occurs when a tile relocates from its place of installation to another location as a result of loosening, which typically occurs over time. Small animals, such as raccoons and squirrels, can also unhinge the tiles, resulting in patches. Also, if your roof is too old, the nails that hold the shingles in place may loosen, allowing the tiles to slide from their position.
Sources
https://www.doityourself.com/stry/4-warning-signs-you-may-need-a-new-roof
https://www.homes.com/blog/2017/10/six-warning-signs-your-roof-needs-to-be-replaced/
