Michael Curry
Need a new roof? Would you know if you did? Many times, the signs can be pretty glaring, but other times they aren’t. A fortified roof above your head is undeniable if you’ve become acclimated to having a warm, comfortable, and leak-free home. Here’s how to notice and address potential issues before they become big ones.
With only a touch of research, you’ve probably come across the “25-30 year rule” for replacing your roof. That number is utilized as a benchmark. Most residential roofs need a replacement within that window. However, there are quite a few variables to consider, and all roofs are unique.
Roofing systems take a tremendous amount of external wear and tear throughout each passing year. Direct sunlight, powerful winds, tree damage, wildlife, hurricanes, rain, or chaotic weather conditions – all of these have a direct correlation with a roof’s lifetime. How quickly your roof needs to be replaced depends on several things:
What kind of weather is experienced.
Proper maintenance and care.
How old the materials are.
Quality of the materials.
Building and design.
Were repairs addressed when needed?
If wildlife was kept away.
External debris buildup.
You Have An Old Roof
Before inspecting your roof for cracks, breaks, and other wear and tear, an initial solid factor to consider is its age. A roof that is 25 to 30 years or more may necessitate a total reroof, even if the roof itself looks in decent shape from the naked eye. Many old roofs were often created with materials that are no longer in use or considered strong today. On the other hand, suppose your roof is a decade or more old. In that case, it may be time for a complete inspection and possibly investing in a whole new roof altogether, mainly if your roof has been laid over a previous roof installation.
Conduct An Interior Roof Check
Once you have started to brainstorm the idea of investing in a new roof, create with conducting your research at home by examining the condition of your roof from the inside out. Bring a flashlight with you to your attic or to the area in your house where the interior of your roof is visible and look for the following signs of a more severe problem:
Rays of Light: Light beams are indicators of roofs that require replacements or repairs. To see the full extent, evaluate your attic during a time of day with good sunlight to locate and identify any light beams.
Leaks: Inspect the attic for drips and potential leaks. Anytime a roof gets a leak, other areas of your home and its foundation are at elevated risk, particularly if you decide not to repair the roofing issue as fast as possible. In addition, water dampness can lead to additional rot and mold, and fungus that can contribute to breathing and other health consequences.
Streaks and Stains: Take note of all of the inside of your roof and look for potential spots, stains, and streaking. Inspect any oddly colored area of your roof for additional information on its cause and potential leak culprit. Stains and streaks within the interior walls of your roof are red flags to a more profound and more severe issue involving your roof’s remaining lifespan.
Missing, Loose, Or Cracked Shingles
The tried and true cliche, out of sight out of mind, is fitting when it comes to the roof—most of the time, not taking a good look until there is a stain or dark spot clearly visible from the street or yard.
Weathered or worn shingles are fairly simple to uncover if you search for them. Completely missing shingles can be replaced individually, but it’s typically an indicator of a bigger problem. Large areas of broken or loose shingles (or those that are visibly crumbling) indicate that your roof needs a replacement.
Shingles can curl in two ways – the first is called cupping when the edges curl towards the sky, and the second way shingles curl is called clawing, when edges stay flat, and the middle starts popping up. Both of these situations could mean that:
Moisture has built up underneath the asphalt due to poor ventilation in the attic.
Shingles were poorly installed.
Blistering and direct sunlight wears asphalt shingles down in short order.
If your roof is at the point where you’re noticing large amounts of asphalt granules in the gutters, then there’s a strong probability your roof needs to be replaced.
Excessive Growths On Your Roof
Dark spots (or generally dirty-looking shingles) are caused by moss and algae growth. These may not be directly tied to when you need to replace your roof (or need repair), but this growth can spread and cause damage.
Are you noticing fungus or other types of natural growth on top or out of your roof? Don’t panic. The natural world tends to grow over any man-made building in its path if it is not properly tended to and maintained.
When examining your roof and the algae you have spotted, be sure to do so by examining both the inside and outside your roof. While the majority of algae growths are likely to be seen from the exterior of your roof, if there is a more severe problem on deck, nature may also be thriving on its own inside the house with you having zero clue.
Most of the time, eliminating natural growths from a roof is a way to fix the problem without considering a reroof rapidly. However, if there is substantial growth around your roof or inside the property, the recommendation is to locate a roofer to determine the root cause and reason for the growth.
In the event the roof is just totally overgrown, then the sole plan would be to get a new roof; this usually happens to roofs that are unattended for long stretches of time.
The good news is, natural growth and buildup aren’t usually a sign that you need to repair or replace your roof. Rather, algae are more of just an eyesore on your roof and one that is relatively common in humid geographic regions.
If your roof needs a new roof replacement in Delray Beach, there then becomes a number of decisions in the near future. Beginning with the roofing material to use, will you stick with asphalt or consider metal? Which roofing contractor to work with? Whether there’s a valid insurance claim. For many homeowners having the cash on hand to get a new roof may not be viable. There are financing options available for qualified homeowners offered by reputable roofing companies. Ensure to do due diligence prior to making your choice of contractor.
