You should take great care when it comes to your home’s upkeep. The difficulties all arise due to the weather and the climate, natural disasters, heavy rainfall, and the quality of building materials used in construction. One of the most easily degrading structures of the house is its roof. The roof is exposed to the environment daily and will need replacing at some point during your lifetime. You should know what to look for to check on your roof. In this article, we will discuss six signs that it’s time to replace your roof.
Consider the General Age of the Roof
The age of the roof on your home is the first thing you should consider before proceeding. There are many kinds of roofs, from asphalt to slate and metal and everything in between. Asphalt roofs are the shortest lasting, with a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, while slate roofs can last up to 100. A general rule is if the roof is older than 25 years, regardless of the material used, you should inspect it thoroughly and seriously consider replacing it.
Visible Shingle Damage
Shingles are a part of the roof that lies on top of the underlying layers. Hundreds or even thousands of shingles are arranged together to create an additional layer that is waterproof and helps in insulation. However, with time and enough exposure to heat and water, there can be visible damage to the shingles on your roof. Common types of damage include curling, cracking, and blistering. Your shingles could even fall off completely. If this issue has become systemic, it’s probably time to replace your roof since a simple repair won’t help much.
Roof Leaks
Roof leaks are very difficult to miss. They usually occur after heavy rains or thunderstorms, but if they do happen, the underlying problem has likely been there for a while. The waterproof layers of your roof have likely been breached, and water accumulates in your roof’s inner layers. This leads to the layers of the roof getting severely weakened. If you have just one leak, it’ll require extensive repairs, at the very least. However, if there’s more than one, you’ll probably have to replace your roof.
Sagging Roof Deck
A sagging roof deck may have several causes. Most of the time, it’s because of an existing leak that was never addressed. Water accumulation and rot can result in the layers of the roof getting so weak that the structural integrity is almost totally gone. At this stage, your roof will need to be replaced. Luckily, professionals all over the country can help out immediately. With the help of the internet, it has become quite easy to find roofing specialists nearby. For example, if you live in Texas, a quick search on the internet for “roofing in Round Rock, TX” can give you plenty of options to choose from.
Weak Insulation
If you’re setting your thermostat or air conditioning to the same settings each time, but the house seems hotter or colder than usual, likely, your home is not properly insulated due to a breach in the roof. Checking the energy bill is a great way to keep tabs on this issue. The bill is greater in homes that are not properly insulated due to the power spent on air conditioning. If this is the case for you, the next step is to inspect your roof for leaks and damage.
Mold and Rot
As mentioned earlier, mold and rot are very dangerous things for your roof to be infected with. Rot eats through the materials in your home silently, and in most cases, you’ll only find out when serious damage has already occurred. Looking for signs of mold becomes far easier if you have a crawl space or an attic. A mold infestation will require the replacement of the roof.
Conclusion
The roof, besides being the fastest to degrade, is also one of the most integral parts of your house. A durable roof is required for comfort, as it helps in insulation and protection from rainfall, wind, dust, and so on. There will be signs of damage your roof will show over time, but it’s integral to be able to differentiate the serious signs from the trivial ones. You don’t want to replace your roof when it’s still functioning as intended. However, if you look for the signs mentioned in this article, you’ll be able to spot a faulty roof and replace it in no time.
