CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR ROOF
Your roof plays a critical role in helping to keep your home and everything in it safe from the elements. If you built your house, then you probably have a good record of the roof installation and a general idea of when the roof may need to be redone. However, if you just bought your house, you might not know the exact history of the roof and when it should be replaced.
So, how will you know when it’s time to replace your roof?
Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Roof
Below are some indicators you might need to replace your roof. If you notice any of these warning signs, it’s important to act quickly — doing so can save you valuable time and money and help prevent further damage to your home.
Age of Roof
One of the more important things to be aware of is the age of your existing roof. Most asphalt shingles need replacement every 15 to 20 years. If you have another type of roofing, the life span may vary. Regardless, if your roof is 15 years or older, it’s a good idea to get it inspected annually. You’ll be able to catch underlying problems early on, repair them, and get a good idea of when you need to plan on a full replacement.
As your roof ages, it will develop signs of wear and tear. While indicators of deterioration aren’t necessarily an emergency, it’s important to note them. These are some of the more common signs of wear and tear:
Discolored shingles
Sagging along the ridge or other areas
Moss or algae growth
Granule loss or granules in gutters
Shrinking or curling shingles
If you notice any of these signs, you should call a professional. They’re definitive signs of an aging roof and could mean an impending roofing problem.
Three Revealing Signs Your Roof Needs to Be Replaced
Roof “Age Spots”
Roofs have ways of visibly showing their age. Although older roofs may continue to keep the elements out, they may be more vulnerable to damage due to wear and tear over the years. Signs of an aging roof can often be observed from ground level, and sometimes a convenient second-floor window offers a bird’s eye view of the shingles. It’s always best to leave any on-roof inspections to the professionals.
Here are seven indications that your roof may be past its prime:
Uneven shingles. Asphalt shingles are meant to lie flat with no edges to catch the wind or interfere with water runoff. Cupped shingles with concave centers, wavy surfaces, and ragged or curled shingle edges are all signs that a roof is past its prime.
Bald shingles. The granular coating on asphalt shingles helps to protect them from the elements, such as harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Roof shingles that are losing or have lost their granules are more exposed to UV rays, potentially causing them to age faster and become brittle.
Cracked shingles. Over the years, UV ray exposure from the sun may cause roof shingles to “dry out” and crack on the surface.
Discoloration. The color of your roofing shingles may fade over the years due to UV degradation, another sign of an aging roof.
Dark streaks. While dark streaks on your roof may be more of an aesthetic problem, they’re an indication of algae growth on your roof. Lichen growth, which occurs with a combination of algae and fungus, can eventually damage shingles and their protective granules. A homeowner’s first step should be to have a professional clean and inspect their roof to check the condition of the shingles and see if a repair or reroof is necessary.
Moss. The roots of moss are much larger than those found in lichens. Too much moss on your roof can speed up the loss of granules. Moss also retains water, adding weight, and keeping your roof in constant contact with water. As with shingle discolorations, a roof inspection and cleaning can help determine the health of the shingles beneath the moss.
Time. While properly installed, high-quality asphalt shingles can provide two to three decades of protection, constant exposure to the elements eventually takes its toll, and they need to be replaced.
Roof Storm Damage
The roof is one of your home’s first lines of defense against Mother Nature. Certain regions of the country are more associated with specific adverse weather events, like tornadoes or hurricanes. However, most locales experience occasional summer storms, which can produce damaging wind gusts and hail. Due to its large surface area and exposed location, the roof is especially vulnerable to storm damage.
Hailstorms
A sudden flurry of hailstones can cause immediate damage to shingles, flashing, and gutters. Visible signs of roof hail damage include loss of granules, divots, and cracks. Sometimes roofing shingles will split beneath their surface due to a hailstone’s impact, leaving your roof open to water infiltration.
Leaking Water
Homeowners may put off signs of an aging roof and be unaware of storm damage, but water spots typically demand a quick reaction. If your roof has lost its ability to repel water due to storm damage or aging, then water damage to the roof deck, insulation, and drywall or mold growth can develop quickly.
Water Damage
A roof with water damage can cause big problems inside your home. In the worst cases, it can be dangerous. If you notice any discoloration on your ceiling or attic, it’s important to address it quickly. Discoloration on your ceiling could mean water has penetrated your roof sheathing and caused an internal leak. Roof leaks inside your home can have disastrous consequences. If you wait to repair water damage to your roof, it can rot, cause mold growth, or even be at risk of collapse.
Noticeable Increase to Energy Bill
Have your utility bills increased sharply? This could be due to inadequate roofing on your home. If your shingles are at the end of their life span, they can absorb heat rather than reflect it. Cold can penetrate if there is damage to the roof decking or seals in your roof. If you’ve noticed higher energy bills, you should get your roof inspected, as it may be the culprit. Though roof installation can be expensive, increasing energy efficiency will help balance costs.
Cracked or Peeling Paint
If you’ve noticed paint that’s cracked or peeling along your ceiling, it could indicate that you have an issue with your roof. While cracked or peeling paint can have multiple root causes, one of the main reasons is excessive moisture. As you can imagine, excessive moisture behind your ceiling or walls is likely caused by a leak. Any signs of paint peeling or cracking along your ceiling warrant a roof inspection. If the leak is major or left unattended, you’ll probably need to replace your roof.
Loose or Damaged Flashing
Roof flashing is what roofers install to divert water away from particular areas of your roof, like where the roof meets a vertical surface or around chimneys, skylights, or other roof penetrations. Water can easily infiltrate critical components of your roof and home if the flashing is damaged, so you should have it repaired or replaced urgently.
Pest Infestations
Pests can cause unsightly damage and leave your roof in a constant state of needing repair. From burrowing into insulation to chewing through wood, pests can cause bigger structural and safety problems. If you notice signs of any of the following critters in your roof structure, you should call an exterminator and have your entire roof inspected for damage:
Bees
Birds
Mice
Rats
Squirrels
Termites
Repairing Vs. Replacing Your Roof
Roof damage doesn’t always mean you need a total replacement. A simple roof repair remedies some minor damage. For example, weather damage is often repairable, especially if your roof or home is only a few years old. If you notice damage to your roof after any of the following events, you should call a roofing professional for an inspection:
Hail
High winds
Fallen tree limbs
Sometimes, total roof replacement is unavoidable. We always recommend you do your research on multiple professional roofing contractors. Here’s what you should examine in addition to their project quotes:
Are they licensed, bonded, and insured?
Are they willing to give a reference?
Are there customer testimonials easily available?
If you need a total roof replacement, you should consider the various materials available to you.
CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM