Regular inspections are key to maintaining roof safety, functionality, and preventing small problems from turning into large ones. However, the sad truth is that no roof can last forever. If the roof of your home is showing any of these warning signs, it might be time to look into having it repaired or replaced altogether. Does your roof raise any of these red flags?
1. Age
Age is the most simple, yet most predictable, indicator of the chances of needing a roof replacement. Roofs are designed to last for around 20-25 years, so if your house is older than that and has never had its roof replaced, you may need to look into a replacement. Moreover, many rooves have a history of a single layer of tiles or shingles being installed over an older layer several years apart. If this is the case with your home, the bottom layer of tiles may be getting too old, which will affect the structural integrity of the newer layers as well.
2. Curling Shingles
If you have a shingle roof, one of the biggest indicators of it being worn out are shingles curling, cracking, or buckling, particularly in areas that get a lot of direct sunlight. Old, damaged shingles that display these signs will also become granulated, which is a sign of advanced wear or damage. Check your gutters for the presence of any shingle granules, which resemble large grains of sand.
3. Leakage
When inspecting the condition of your roof, keep an eye out for any signs of water damage or leakage, which indicate the need for replacement. These warning signs include dark spots or trails, mould in the tiles, signs of moisture in the insulation, and any outside light visible from the attic or insulation cavities.
4. Sagging Tiles
Check the valleys of your roof for any signs of dips or sagging. This red flag is particularly important because if your roof does have any sagged areas, they will very rapidly worsen as they become filled with rainfall and other debris, worsening the sagging and increasing the likelihood of water damage to that area.
5. Discolouration
Discolouration is a key sign of granulated, worn out tiles. Because shingles are generally manufactured using a mixture of fiberglass and asphalt, any grey or white discolouration that was not present before indicates tile erosion.