Do you absolutely hate the way your roof makes your home look?
If so, that’s one pretty obvious sign that you need to put a new roof on your home. Over time, a roof can fade and drag the curb appeal of your entire home down.
But that’s far from the only sign that will indicate that it’s time for roof replacement. There are tons of other signs that you should also look out for prior to replacing your home’s roof.
Here are 10 surprising signs that your home might need a new roof ASAP.
1. Missing Shingles
Have you noticed that a few of your roof’s shingles have gone missing in recent months?
In some cases, a bad storm can cause several shingles to fall off your roof. You can usually do storm damage restoration in these instances and repair your roof rather than replacing it.
But in other cases, the shingles may have gone missing because your roof is starting to fail on you. You can replace the shingles for the time being to protect your roof. But you should also start to look into having your roof replaced soon.
2. Damaged or Rotting Shingles
Just because the shingles on your roof haven’t fallen off doesn’t mean they’re in great condition.
Often times, hail, branches, and other debris can fall on your roof and cause damage to your shingles. If shingles are exposed to a lot of moisture, they can also start to rot or show other signs of wear.
You should make an effort to have your roof inspected at least once every year to check the condition of your shingles. Once they begin to deteriorate, you can try to repair them, but it’s only a matter of time before you’re going to need a new roof.
3. Granules From Shingles in Gutters
When you cleaned out your gutters this fall, did you find tons of granules from your shingles lining the inside of them?
This is yet another sign that the shingles on your roof are going to give out on you soon. Once the granules on the shingles start to fall off, it won’t be long before they become weak and brittle.
Keep an eye on your gutters each and every time you clean them out. If there are any granules from your shingles in them, it’s a bad sign.
4. Algae, Mildew, or Moss Growth
It’s not that uncommon to see small patches of algae, mildew, or moss growing on top of a roof. You’ll often find them on roofs that are overshadowed by trees.
Do your part to remove any algae, mildew, or moss that you find on your roof. You should also be concerned if the algae, mildew, or moss continues to come back.
These things can invite moisture to seep deep down into your roof. They can cause the lower levels of your roof to rot and make the entire roof very weak. So don’t ignore the presence of algae, mildew, or moss.
5. Missing or Damaged Flashing
Flashing, which is typically made out of either galvanized steel or aluminum, is put in place at the seams of any roof to stop moisture from working its way into the roof. You’ll often find flashing around pipes and chimneys.
If you see that you have flashing missing or if you’ve experienced damage to flashing, call on a roofing company for roof repair right away. A lack of flashing could lead to serious roofing problems within a matter of just a few weeks.
You may even need to have roof replacement done if the flashing has been missing or damaged for a long enough time.
6. Sagging Roof
When you look at your roof from the ground level, does it appear as though it’s sagging inwards? That could very well be because it is sagging due to either a hole in your roof or a weak spot.
You should never, ever ignore a sagging roof, as it could indicate that your roof is on the verge of collapsing inwards. It’s better to catch a problem like that long before it causes damage to the inside of your home.
7. Weak Spots
A roof won’t always sag when it has weak spots in it. At times, you might not even be able to see weak spots at all.
Roofers can certainly feel them when they’re walking around on a roof, though. Weak spots are areas on a roof that aren’t anywhere nearly as sturdy as they should be.
At the very least, you should address weak spots and find out what’s causing them. There’s a good chance that moisture has managed to make your roof weak. You’ll usually have to replace the roof to make it strong again.
8. Sunlight in Attic
You can tell a lot about your roof without actually climbing up on it. You can actually see if there are any leaks in it by going up into your attic.
Take a trip up to your attic and see if you can find any sunlight coming in. If you can, that’s a pretty obvious sign of a hole in your roof. A small hole might be able to be patched, but larger ones could require a roof replacement.
9. Water Spots on Ceilings
Another way to tell if your roof has a leak in it from inside your home is by checking out your ceilings.
Are there water spots on any of them? This could be a sign of a plumbing problem above your ceilings. But it could also be proof that you have water leaking into your home through your roof.
A roofing company can investigate the cause of your water spots and prevent them from getting any worse than they already are.
10. Old Age
The lifespan of your roof will really depend on what materials were used to make it.
Most asphalt roofs will last somewhere between 20 and 25 years, while some metal roofs can last for 50 years or more. It’s good to know what kind of roof you have when you’re considering roof replacement.
It’s also good to keep a closer eye on your roof once it reaches the age of about 25 years old. That’s when most homeowners will start to strongly consider roof replacement.
Invest in a New Roof for Your Home Today
If your roof has seen better days, replacing it with a new roof might be your best option at the moment. It’ll enhance the look of your home and make sure it’s protected from the elements.
Utilize the services of a trusted roofing company to do roof replacement for you. They’ll handle everything from tearing off your old roof to putting your new one on safely.
Contact us to hear about our roofing services or read our blog for more tips on caring for your home’s roof.