How do you know it’s time to replace your roof? There are many signs that might trigger you to consider roof replacement – from shaggy shingles to stained ceilings or other signs of leaks inside your home. It’s important to keep a close eye on your roof so that you can predict when it needs replacing, but it’s likewise important to collaborate with a qualified roofing professional to ensure the long-term maintenance of your roof and ultimately time roof replacements more effectively. After all, sometimes roof repair is an appropriate approach that can save you money, and other times roofers will recommend replacement. Let’s take a closer look.
Regular roof maintenance and inspections scheduled with a professional roofer are the keys to determining when it’s time to replace your roof. Minor leaks or roof damage can often be repaired without concern – but unless you have extensive roofing experience, it can be difficult to distinguish between damage that indicates repair versus replacement. Localized damage, cracked structures and flashing, or torn shingles are often repairable, but there are specific signs that it may be time to replace your roof. Some of these signs include:
- Multiple buckled or curling shingles
- Deteriorating shingles as evidenced by the appearance of shingle granules in gutters and eaves troughs
- Damaged or failing shingle tabs
- Visible roof sagging
- Interior leaks or sunlight coming through the roof into attics or interior spaces
Ultimately, many of these issues can be identified and rectified before they become a problem, especially when you have a regularly-scheduled maintenance plan with your roofer. Nevertheless, even the best cared for roof will need to be replaced eventually. Outside the type of damage to your roof, other factors to consider when deciding whether it’s time to replace your roof are the age of your roof, the expert opinion of your roofer, and even how long you plan to live in your home. So, if you have an old roof (one that is nearing or past its warranty), and your roofer is recommending replacement, these are good signs it’s time to replace your roofer. That being said, also remember that roofing replacement is a major investment, and while it can increase the re-sale value of your home, it’s important to balance the cost of replacement on the return on that investment.
So, if you are asking yourself when it is time to replace your roof, you really need to take some time to consider multiple factors. You certainly don’t want to jump to the rash decision to replace your roof when repairs would be adequate, but you also want to ensure the quality of your roof so that your home and belongings are well-protected.
