When Should You Replace Your Roof? A Starter's Guide

Maintaining a good roof is critical for the preservation of your home. The roof keeps moisture out of the house and protects it from hail, wind, and extreme temperatures. Over time, your roof will slowly deteriorate and require replacement. This major project should never be delayed, but it also shouldn't be done before the expense can be justified. Here are four ways to assess your roof and determine if it's time for a replacement.

Missing or Damaged Shingles

Hail and wind can be very damaging to a shingle roof. A severe weather event can dislodge shingles from your roof, leaving them in your yard, gutters, or landscaping. After bad weather comes through, check around these areas for broken shingles after looking at the roof itself. Other shingles may still be on the roof but have damage that shows as shiny areas where the plastic is visible. Consult someone in residential roofing services to assess the roof's condition.

Thin Grit

Shingle grit wears off slowly, but when it reaches a critical level, you need to take action. It can be difficult to tell how thick the grit is simply by viewing the roof from ground level. Make the job easier by cleaning your gutters annually and paying attention to the amount of grit found in them. As the losses mount, it can be time to consider a replacement.

Sagging Structure

Sometimes the shingles may look fine, even when viewed from the roof. However, they could have issues underneath that are allowing water to seep into the house. Several problems with the shingles can create damage that weakens the structure of the roof. If you see that the ridgeline is no longer straight or that there are uneven areas, it's time to take a closer look and see if both the shingles and the roof itself need repair.

Water Leaks

This is the first sign many people see, but we've placed it last because the other signs should have already been detected before the roof reached this point. Nevertheless, wet spots on the ceiling are a bad sign, and you should definitely take action immediately. The longer such a problem is neglected, the more serious the damage to the roof and the entire home.

Monitoring the condition of your roof is essential to getting repairs and replacements made at the time when they are needed most. With careful attention, you can keep a solid roof in place without doing it before it's necessary.