Every roof is going to need to be replaced at some point or another. You can not just lay the new one over the old one. This can cut your new roof’s life span by as much as 20%. Home maintenance can be a daunting task in general and installing a new roof is no small ordeal so, how are you supposed to know when you need a new roof? Here are a few tips to answer that question.
- Roof Life Span The age of your current roof is the first thing to consider to find out if you need a complete roof replacement. Typically, roofs will last anywhere from 20 to 25 years. Remember I mentioned cutting your roof’s life by 20% by laying an new roof over an old one? Well, if that has happened to your roof more than 16 years ago, you probably should look into getting a new one.
- Curling, Caving or Missing Shingles If you can visibly see that the shingles of your current roof are curling upwards, caving inwards or are completely gone in an area, this is another sign. Curling shingles can happen because of direct sunlight. Missing shingles are yet another sign that the roof could possibly be failing if the shingles are coming lose or have been damaged by weather. in 2013 alone there were 5,457 hailstorms, which affected many a roof, I’m sure.
- Chimney Flashing Chimney flashing is the bottom area of a chimney, its a component of the house which stops water from leaking inside. Metal flashing system are known to be better than tar or roof cement so if you have the later, it might need to be replaced. This is a crucial area as around 95% of leaks happen here.
- Gutters Not necessarily the gutters themselves, but keep an eye on those gutters. If they are full of shingle granules, chances are, your roof’s life is coming to an end. Roofs lose more granules towards the end than any other time. Also, if you are going to be keeping your roof in good shape, do look out for the gutters themselves. You may need gutter repair if you are finding leaks or rust coming from them. New gutters should last you between 20 and 40 years. A good rule of thumb is to have the gutters and roofs replaced together.
- Daylight in the Attic If you can see the sun coming through the slats in the roof of your attic it’s another sign. Another way to tell is if there is moisture in the insulation.
Once you’ve determined that you need a new roof, contact your full service roof contractor to take care of your home maintenance. This is definitely not something you want to attempt to do yourself.
As with all home maintenance, having a handyman you can trust is the most important thing. We have a full office simply dedicated to helping out our customers and earning their trust. Whenever you call, we will answer, no exceptions!