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SHOULD YOU CONSIDER A ROOF REPLACEMENT
A solid roof above your head is pretty crucial if you’ve become accustomed to having a warm, cozy, and leak-free home. Here’s how to notice and deal with potential issues before they become big ones.
Your roof’s 25th birthday is approaching
An asphalt shingle roof should last between 20 and 30 years. If you have a 40-year-old roof, there could be a problem even if it looks good from the ground. You have five to ten years depending on your roof’s condition. If you live in a development and your neighbors are all starting to replace their roofing, that could be a sign that you should do the same.
Signs of water damage
Once the roof of your house has worn away enough that water can start seeping under the shingles it’s definitely time to get your roof replaced. Look for wet patches or mold in the attic ceiling or signs of leakage from the roof and if you find any it’s a good idea to consider roof replacement. Once water damage has started any patched over repairs will only be temporary measures and may actually be trapping in moisture and causing more damage.
The sun shines into your attic
If you can see patches of sunlight through the roof itself then it’s definitely time to get the roof replaced rather than just repaired because it means the roof has seriously worn away and can be dangerous to leave in its current state. Seeing through your roof can also indicate damage to your roofing structure so be sure to contact a professional to handle this potentially dangerous situation.
Curling or cracked shingles
If the shingles on your roof are curling from the edges or the center or if your shingles are cracking it might be a sign to get your roof replaced. It could last another 1-5 years or it may be severely damaged in the next storm. Though curling is a normal sign of aging as well!
Entire shingles are missing
From a functional standpoint, there should be no problem with just replacing a few shingles here and there. What you do need to be prepared for is the fact that it’s just about impossible to get a new shingle to match the color of an old one. Granule colors have changed pretty significantly over the years. Plus, the colors change slightly with weathering. You can keep patching until a bigger issue presents itself, but if a roof starts to look like a checkerboard, people often opt to replace the whole thing.
The shingles are cracked
Cracked shingles are typically a result of wind damage. If just a few shingles are cracked, you can certainly replace them. If the cracking isn’t isolated to one particular area and it’s random throughout the roof, that’s a telltale sign that you should start thinking about a new roof. You may need to replace the whole thing within three to five years.
You’re finding granules in the gutter
If you just got a new asphalt shingle roof and you see a bunch of granules in the gutters, there’s nothing to worry about. Those are just loose, extra ones. But if it’s been 10 or 15 years, that’s a sign of a bigger problem. Granules help keep the sun off the asphalt. Once the granules fall off and the shingles start to bake, the quality will deteriorate in a hurry. If you don’t have a new roof and you just started to notice the granules in the gutter, the shingles are probably halfway through their lifespan.
Missing Granules
The granules on shingles are made to protect your roof from sun exposure and increase the fire resistance of your roof. In other words, granules are not just something that can be scraped off and forgotten about like crumbs. Without granules, your shingles aren’t going to function properly, and that can lead to leaks, higher utility bills, and other issues. If you find granules around the downspout or in the gutters, it is time to replace your shingles.
The shingles are covered with moss or algae
When moss grows on shingles, it doesn’t always mean that your shingles are old and need replacing. Sometimes, you can even clean the moss from the shingles. That said, if there is abundant moss growth, it will eventually damage the integrity of the asphalt shingles on your roof by getting underneath, lifting the shingles away from the underlayment. Do not let moss grow unchecked. If you do, you may need to replace the entire roof.
Conclusion
Replacing old or damaged shingles is something that should never be delayed. Do not overlook the signs that your roof is beginning to fail, because it opens up the opportunity of greater, more expensive damages. Now that you know the signs the tell you the asphalt shingles need to be replaced, go out and inspect your roof. You know what to do if you find signs of aging.
CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004