Caring for your roof is an essential part of homeownership to ensure you have adequate protection on your home and don’t have to pay for extensive repairs due to damage that is easy to avoid. Old roofs are one of the main causes of leaks and different water damage that occurs, making it necessary to know if your roof is in poor condition. There are a few top signs that indicate your roof is in need of a replacement.
Sagging
Sagging is visible from the outside of the home and will look like your roof has a dip present, which can put it at risk of caving in at any time. This poses a serious threat to residents in the home and requires immediately replacing the structure with the help of professional roofers. Sagging often occurs when the roofing materials have started to deteriorate and are no longer strong.
Frequent Leaks
It’s common for roof leaks to develop from time to time, but you shouldn’t find yourself hiring a professional to repair them every few months. Leaks mean that the roof deck has issues that are present and that your home is at risk of serious water damage. This can cause your family to be exposed to mildew and mold that develop if the water sits for too long and the repairs aren’t performed in a timely manner. With a new roof, you no longer have to spend money on these types of repairs and can put your money towards a stronger and durable structure.
Missing Shingles
You may discover that your roof deck has a lot of missing shingles present, which can cause it to become exposed. The shingles are prone to becoming loose and falling off the roof when they’ve started to deteriorate and no longer hold up well. This means your home doesn’t have the protection it needs from the elements, which can lead to extensive repairs and damage. Although you may hire a roofer to secure the shingles back onto the roof, they can still fall off again after a few months. It’s also common to notice missing shingles after heavy winds or a storm.
You’ll also want to check your rain gutters for shingle granules that may be present, which indicate the roofing materials are falling apart and that it’s time to install a new roof.
Age
You don’t necessarily need to have a lot of issues present to replace your roof. You can consider the age of the roof to determine if it’s reached the end of its lifespan. The lifespan is influenced by the type of materials that are used, whether you have asphalt shingles, clay tiles, or metal panels. You can also hire a roofer to perform an inspection to determine if it’s time to start a reroofing project on the building.
Understanding the signs and symptoms of an old roof that is no longer structurally sound will allow you to determine when it’s time to invest in a new roof. This will maintain the value and quality of the property.