7 signs that you might need a new roof

Are you accustomed to have a warm, cozy, and leak-free home? For such, you need a pretty solid roof that can deal with potential issues and take care of harsh elements. But even if you have the toughest roof, it still must reach the end of its useful life. It will look old and worn, even if you’re following a comprehensive preventive maintenance plan in your home. 

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t maintain your roof at all. Delaying roof maintenance and replacement can result in bigger and costlier problems down the road. Therefore, you must watch for the warning signs.

Though you can make the most out of a roof with proactive maintenance, but still a time will come when reroofing is indispensable. So, you must know the trouble signs in order to timely allocate a budget for a reroofing. Signs such as loose shingles, missing or damaged shingles, missing gutter holes, and damaged flashing are great indicators that your roof needs to be replaced.

Timely replacing a roof isn't just about making a house more livable and safer; it’s also about preventing thousands of dollars in damage to your home and personal health.

Here are some tell-tale signs that your roof is in trouble and needs replacement before it's too late.

Storm or hail damage

Elements like hail and heavy rain can cause massive damage to your roof by exposing it to high levels of water, especially in older homes. If you see broken or missing shingles, missing gutters, or holes in the shingles, this is a sign that your roof is in trouble. Newly constructed homes rarely experience storm damage, but older homes are prime candidates for extensive roof rot. Visible leaks are another sign that your roof needs to be repaired.

Sagging roof line

It is without a doubt that a saggy or droopy roof surely needs replacing. That’s a sign you should panic about because you don’t have much you left. So, check for the sagging spots on your roof from the top or any structural issue. A sagging roof may be due to a problem with the decking or the supports in the foundation. If you can find a depression or droop in your roof, call in the experts and don’t waste any second.  

Ice and Snow damage

If you live in a place where it snows, pay attention to this: When snow or ice chunks gather on your roof, it can often cause a sheet of ice to form on the roof. Overtime, the sheet of ice can become a kind of ice dam, which causes the water to freeze and create a huge water leak. Ice dams are and annoyance for you as a homeowner. They can damage the roof, gutters, and your home. In extreme situations, ice dams can exert enormous load and there’s a risk of roof collapse. The snow around your attic will eventually melt but again it flows down at the eaves where it freezes and causes cracking in your roof. It can also damage your gutter and shingles.

Roof is too old

If you have a roof with age over 25 years, you should get ready to replace your roofing. Even if you don’t find any damage from the outside, the roof may have underlying issues that you can’t ignore. In the same fashion, if you notice the decking or rafter of your roof is sagging downward instead of remaining straight, you have no other option but to let go of the roof. 

Extensive visible damage

As mentioned earlier, any signs of damage to the roof itself, such as holes or discoloration, can help you determine whether your home needs to be replaced. Signs such as holes or cracks may also indicate other issues, including leaks, which can also indicate roofing material failure. If you see signs of leakage coming from the roof, consult with a professional roofer to determine whether or not your roof needs to be replaced.

Sunlight sips through the attic

Your roof is up there to protect from the glaring of the sunlight and avoid rain tipping down from the attic. So, if you can see sunlight from your attic or water stains down there, call a pro. You can patch a small area or few leaks, but larger damaged areas need roof replacement sooner. 

Moss or algae on the top of shingles

Moss or algae on your roof spells trouble. Mold, fungi, and moss indicate trapped moisture in your roof that can ruin your rooftop. So, try to inspect the roof for trapped moisture or rotting, especially at the lowest points. The growth of moss can accelerate in cool and moist climates. Moss or algae can be a cosmetic issue, but it can accelerate the wearing of the roof. Call in an expert, and they’ll take care of the mold with power washing or scraping. If the problem is persistent, you can decide to replace your roof or use algae-resistant roofs.  

Cracked or missing shingles

A heavy windstorm can crack shingles here and there. Plus, they gradually lose volatiles due to evaporation and aging. The shingle dries and cracks over time. Heat can accelerate this craze-cracking or random cracking. You can replace these shingles with new pieces. But if the cracking and tearing are widespread, better to opt to have a roof replacement. 

Check for the bald spots where granules are missing. You can replace a few shingles here and there, but they’ll never match the color of the old ones. The color of shingles has changed over the years, and the color of the roof also fades over time. If you are annoyed by this replacing venture, you can opt to replace the whole thing.

Prevention is better than cure

You see, a lot of issues with roofs can be timely addressed. If you’re having a leaky roof, here at SPF we have high-quality products to make it waterproof. For instance, you can use Aquaflex Roof a ready-to-use flexible liquid membrane to apply waterproof layer on exposed surface or roofing. Besides, we’ve got range of roof and gutter silicon sealant to make your roof leak-proof. If your roof has issues with insulation and you’re finding cavities, you can get fix it with foam to fill all openings in roof constructions thereby enhancing sound and thermal insulation.    

The bottom line

Your roof offers warning signs before failing. Timely replacing a roof ensures safety of your home and your family. If you’re engaged every weekend treating leaks in your roof, it’s a time to let it go. There’s no point living with damaged roofing, mold growing behind plaster walls, missing roof shingles, and dripping waters.

Being a proactive homeowner, you can plan for a roof replacement venture without much trouble. You can keep track of the tell-tale signs as that would mean a roof replacement in the coming 2 to 3 years. That gives you enough time to allocate budget, finalize a roofing material, and hire a professional roofing contractor for the replacement.