The roof is expected to perform many functions – it should protect you and everything inside the house from the elements. It also suffers the most from different weather conditions and just like everything else, it ages. Below you will find the main symptoms that will tell you that you need to perform a roof replacement.
The Shingles Are Curling
There are two types of curling shingles:
• clawing, which means that the middle is coming up while the edges are flat; and
• cupping, which means that the middle of shingles is flat while the edges are turning upward.
Both types are signs that the roof has problems. These could lead to leaks and then to fruition. Look at the shingles. Depending on how curly they are, you have from a year to three years before you need to replace the roof.
Signs of Leakage
Of course, if you see a leak you do not have to replace the whole roof. However, it is one of the main signs that your roof is worn out and needs your attention. One leak is not a big problem if you take care of it quickly, but if you leave repair for couple of months, you will have to deal with more severe damage. Leaks reduce the lifespan of the roof; besides, they are the grounds for mold and bacteria.
Entire Shingles Are Missing
Replacing several missing shingles is an easy task that anyone can do without professional help. However, you need to be prepared for the fact that it is pretty hard to find a new shingle of the same color than the old one and the more are missing, the less appealing your roof will look. Even if the color of your shingles is pretty common for the roof, colors of the old shingles have changed with weathering and aging.
You can keep adding new shingles until a bigger problem happens but many people replace the roof when it starts looking like a checker board.
Streaking Mold
Do you have plenty of dark, streaky lines or green patches on the roof? If you do, this is the time to replace your roof. These spots and lines are the result of algae, moss, mold and fungus that are attacking the roof.
Modern shingles have a protective coat on the surface that keeps mold and algae away for a long period of time. However, fungus can slowly eat the protective barrier. This is not good for the structure of the roof; besides, green and black patches do not look appealing.
Missing Granules or Granules Found in Gutters
If you know you do not have mold and algae on the roof but still see dark patches there – this is a sign of missing granules. However, if you just installed a new roof and have found granules in the gutters, it is totally fine. Extra granules can fall of the new roof.
But if your roof is 10 years old and you are finding granules in the gutters, you may want to consider replacing the roof. When granules wear off, the shingles are more affected by weather and sunlight. They will not last long and deteriorate much faster.
You Can See Sunlight from Your Attic
You do not need a professional to tell you this is not a good sign. If you can see sunlight through your attic, it means that rain and snow will also get in. Check for water stains. If you do not want to replace the roof straight away, watch leaks over a several rainfalls and if water stains change in size, you have got a problem.
In this case, the amount of time you have before replacing the roof depends on the damage. You can easily patch small leaks yourself, but large leaks, age factor and structural damage may force you to replace the roof as soon as you can.
All these signs are brought by different conditions that roof has gone through: age, physical damage, winds and sunlight. Whatever reason resulted in your roof’s damage, you may need to perform repairs promptly and fix problems the moment you spot any of these signs. If you cannot perform the repair or the roof does not look appealing, you will need to contact your local contracting company to make a roof replacement.