With the new year fast approaching, you will want to begin thinking about preparing your home for the coming winter. Experts are predicting that many areas across the country will likely be seeing heavier than normal rains this winter, which makes it even more imperative that you ensure that your house is winter ready. One of the most important things you can do is to make sure that your roof is in good condition and will not lead to costly, problematic leakages when it rains. Having your roof replaced now could save you time, stress, and a giant headache later on. Yet, how will you know if you are in need of new roof installation? Here are a few of the signs you can be on the lookout for that can indicate the need for your roof to be replaced.
The Age of Your Roof
The age of your roof can be a big indicator as to whether or not it may be time to consider roof replacement. For the average roof, 20-25 years is considered to be the average life expectancy. If your roof is more than 20 years old, then it is likely that it is nearing the end of its usable life, and may need to soon be replaced. Having your roof inspected could help you to determine whether or not you may be able to get a couple more years out of your current roof; however, the longer you keep such an old roof, the greater the likelihood is that you will encounter problems with it.
Broken, Curling Shingles
If your roof is not extremely old, or you do not know how old it is, the best way to determine its condition would be to (carefully) inspect your roof for signs of shingle damage. Shingles that are cracked, curling buckling, or damaged in any way are often indicative of a roof aging. In particular, you will want to check areas that receive heavy sunlight, as these are the most likely to be damaged due to sun and heat exposure. While shingle damage can be repaired, excessive damage is often a sign that your roof is past its life expectancy, or that it is defective, and should thusly be replaced.
Missing Shingles
While up on your roof, you will also want to make sure that all of your shingles are in place. Again, while it is not uncommon for shingles to go missing, and a few missing shingles can be easily replaced, large numbers of shingles disappearing is likely a sign of roof deterioration. This can be problematic as unsecure, or missing, shingles can allow water to enter your home. For this reason, if you notice missing shingles on your roof, you may want to consider having your roof replaced.
Missing Shingle Granules
Finally, you will want to check your gutters for signs of shingle granules. Shingle granules act as a protective coating on your roof; however, it is not uncommon for some of these granules to wash away over time. It is when you notice large amounts of these granules missing from your shingles, or ending up in your gutter, that you should be concerned. Not only are shingles that are missing granules more susceptible to damage, but also, roofs tend to lose more granules toward the end of their life, thus indicating the need for roof replacement.
Knowing the signs that can indicate that it may be time to have your roof replaced can help to protect your home this coming winter. If you are unsure what condition your roof is in, it may be a good idea to have it inspected, and repaired or replaced before heavy rains arrive. Contact us to learn about more of the signs that can indicate that you may need to consider having your roof replaced.