Replacing your roof is one of those things that everyone hates doing. Spending money on your roof is not like other, more fun renovation projects. When you renovate your kitchen, for example, you get a beautiful, new, updated kitchen of your dreams at the end of it. But when you renovate your roof…you end up with a roof that looks a lot similar to what you started out with – minus the cracked or curling shingles.
But sometimes replacing your roof is one of those necessary evils you just have to go through with and putting it off may end up costing you more in the end. Here are four signs to watch for if you’re thinking you might need to repair or replace your roof.
1. Signs of leaking or water damage. Take a flashlight and go on an attic exploration adventure. See if you detect any signs that water might be getting in.
- Does the roof seem to be bowed or sagging in places?
- Do you notice any water stains, particularly around the chimney or other ventilation pipes and openings?
- Is the insulation wet?
- Do you notice any holes through which the outside light is coming in?
- Is there any moldy or rotted wood?
If your roof is leaking in one spot, you can probably have someone repair the damaged area. If you have multiple leaks, you’ll want to get your roof replaced right away.
2. Cracked or torn shingles. Do you notice any broken or missing shingles? A few cracked shingles doesn’t mean your whole roof needs to be replaced, but it does mean you should call someone to repair your roof before you do need an entire replacement.
Find out if you can get replacement shingles that match your current ones. If not, your patch job will be fairly obvious.
3. Curled shingles. The south-facing side of your roof is the best indicator of heat damage to your shingles. If the corners of the shingles are just beginning to turn up, you don’t have to replace your roof yet. But if the shingles are badly curled, you’ll want to replace your roof soon before it starts to leak.
It’s possible to replace only one side of your roof if the south-facing side is curling badly, while the north-facing side is not. However, you should take the age of your shingles into consideration. If they’re more than 10 years old, you may want to replace your whole roof in one shot, which will probably be cheaper overall than replacing one side on two different occasions.
4. Shingle granules in your gutters. As asphalt shingles age, they begin to lose some of their granules. You’ll see these in your gutters or on the lawn around your downspout. This is a sign that your shingles are getting thinner and less able to keep water out of your home.
If you’re not sure if your roof needs to be repaired or replaced, call a recommended contractor who you can trust to give you an honest assessment of the situation.
