All homeowners will eventually reach a point in time when they need to replace the home’s roof. Whether this occurs due to an accident, a roof failure, or simple aging of the roof, there are certain signs you can look out for that tell you when your roof should be replaced rather than repaired.
1. You Can See Daylight Through the Roof’s Interior
Roofs are meant to create a solid and weather-tight barrier between the outside and inside of your home. So, one of the easiest ways to tell if your roof needs to be replaced is to check that that barrier is, in fact, still solid.
If daylight can be seen coming from any cracks, holes, or other openings in the ceiling of the attic, it means that the roof is no longer working effectively. These openings allow for pests, rain, debris, and anything else that makes its way to your roof to enter your home.
2. You Can See Water Damage in the Home’s Ceiling
If your ceiling is displaying signs of water or moisture damage, then this water likely made its way into the home from a roof that is no longer protecting it.
There are a few signs to look for when trying to diagnose water damage in your ceiling. Dark streaks in the ceiling and walls typically show where water is leaking into the home. Additionally, sagging areas of the ceiling may indicate collecting water or bloated boards in the home.
3. You Can See Exterior Roof Rotting
It was common when installing roofs on other homes to use materials like wood and asphalt, which aren’t as durable or weather resistant as many materials used today. If your roof was constructed with these materials, you can usually tell it needs replacing by simply looking for signs of rot.
If the roof shingles are bloated, molding, becoming significantly discolored, or even falling away, then it is probably time to have the roof replaced and updated.
4. You Notice Roof Granules in Your Gutter
When roofs start to become old and ineffective, little particles and pieces of the shingles detach easily as the shingles fall apart slowly.
You can tell if this is happening to your roof by checking the gutters. If you notice that species of your shingle material are in the gutter, this means that they are being washed away from your roof every time it rains. Effective shingles stay intact, so this means it is likely time to replace your roof.
5. You Know that Your Roof Has Passed its Life Expectancy
Not everyone knows how old their roof is. If you had the roof installed yourself, however, or knew when you bought the house how long ago the roof had been updated, then you will be able to use this information for proper roof maintenance and replacing.
Most roofs will last for about 20-30 years, while roofs made of materials like slate or copper could last upwards of 50 years. If you know that your roof has outlived this time period, then it’s a good idea to go ahead and replace it with upgraded or new materials.
6. You See Damage to the Roof or Chimney Flashing
The flashing at the base of your chimney, where it meets the roof, is an easily visible area of the roof that speaks volumes about the roof’s age and condition. If something is wrong with the flashing, then chances are something is wrong with the roof itself.
If you notice damage to the flashing, such as crumbling or rotting material, or see it pulling away from the chimney itself, then it is likely that the roof itself is also deteriorating and needs to be replaced altogether.
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