6 Signs You Need a New Roof

6 Signs You Need a New Roof

Recently found yourself wondering, “How do I know that I need a new roof”? Found yourself searching the web for indications of how often to replace your roof? You’re not alone. Roof replacement is an important part of the maintenance of your home and is one of the most important components of keeping your house in good shape. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the most common signs that you need to start planning for a new roof ASAP.

You Don’t Know How Old Your Roof Is

Do you know how old your roof is? If your immediate answer is “No idea,” that might be a good sign that your roof is overdue for a replacement. Fortunately, this is information that should be readily available to you in your home inspection documents from when you purchased your home if you haven’t replaced it yourself. If you can, look for two things:

1. When your roof was installed or last replaced.
2. What materials were used. Most residential roofs are constructed from asphalt shingles and need replacing every 20 years or so.

You Notice Leaks or Interior Water Damage

One of the first places you should check to see if your roof needs repairing or replacing is actually inside your house. Specifically, your attic. Arm yourself with a flashlight and spend some time examining the interior of your roof. If you notice any dark streaks or splotches along your attic ceiling, this is a good sign that your roof may be reaching the end of its lifespan.

You Notice Unexpected Light in Your Attic

Remember that flashlight you took upstairs with you? Turn it off. Along with the signs of leaks and the beginnings of water damage, the presence of unexpected beams of light in your attic is another indication that your roof is wearing out. Even if a hole seems small or is not readily visible aside from the patches of light, any opening will grow and is already limiting your energy efficiency.

Your Shingles Are Different Colors/Damaged/Curling/Mossy

A healthy roof should be straight, flat, and even, with a relatively uniform color throughout. If you notice any abnormalities across the shingles, this can be an early indication that your roof has sustained some damage and/or may be reaching the end of its lifespan. Look out for patches where the shingles have clearly experienced uneven wear or discoloration, chips or curling, or the growth of moss from standing water.

Your Gutters Are Full of Debris

Along with the aforementioned chips or curling in your shingles, roofs in need of replacing may start depositing debris such as bits of shingle, roofing tar, or other detritus in your gutters (yet another reason to keep them regularly cleaned!).

Your Roofline Is No Longer Straight

If you notice sagging, drooping, or other indications that your roofline is no longer a firm, straight line, you should reach out to a professional roofer immediately. Sagging of this kind often indicates that major rot and structural damage is present on your roof deck, which increases the likelihood of major damage to your home.

Your roof is critical to the structural integrity of your home. Even if you don’t need to think about it as often as, say, your gutters, its regular upkeep is nonetheless important. If you’re not sure when the last time your roof was replaced or even inspected, reach out to the experts at Perimeter Remodeling for a free, easy consultation to ensure the roof over your head *stays* over your head!