Your roof is incredibly important. It shelters you from rain and snow while enduring the wear and tear of time, the environment, and more. For that reason, you need to ensure your roof remains in good condition and understand when it's time to replace it entirely. To help you determine when you need to call a residential roofing contractor, here are seven signs you need a new roof for your home.
1. Water Stains On Your Ceiling
Water damage is a huge issue for roofs, and if you notice water stains on your ceiling or experience a leak, you need to take action immediately. This is a clear sign of water damage and can quickly spiral into a worse situation, such as mold or structural damage.
A subtle cause of water damage can stem from moss growing on your roof. The moss becomes intertwined with your shingles, eventually lifting them off the roof. Furthermore, the moss is very absorbent and will soak up rainwater, making your roof even more vulnerable to water damage.
If that occurs, repairing your home will be a lengthy and expensive process. It's best to just have your roof replaced before rot and decay take hold and become a widespread issue.
2. Your Roof Is Missing Shingles
Another sign you need a new roof for your home is if there are holes in the shingles. Wear, tear, and high winds often knock shingles loose and carry them off. While it's easy to replace one or two shingles if you notice a large number of them missing—or your roof keeps losing them at a frequent rate—then it's time for a full makeover. Your roof is simply too worn out and damaged for restoration.
3. Your Roof Has Damaged Shingles
Similarly, you want to be on the lookout for cracked or curling shingles. The edges of your shingles eventually begin to disintegrate as the asphalt breaks down. This is often a result of age, and it is better to simply replace the entire roof than try to keep up with maintaining each shingle.
4. Finding Granule Flakes In Your Gutters
If you find granule particles in your gutters, shiny edges on your roof, or discoloration in the shingles, then your roof is really getting worn down and falling apart. The granule flakes are hard to notice at first, but eventually, the flakes will begin to pile up in your gutters. As wear and tear continue, your roof will begin to show discoloration and uneven surface patterns. Once this occurs, your shingles will be exposed, and issues like leaks and water damage will become much more likely. This flaking process is natural, as the weather and environment are constantly eroding your roof.
5. Uneven Roof Surface
You'll be able to identify an uneven roof by its wavy pattern. This indicates that underlying deck boards have become warped from leaks and other ongoing moisture issues. When investigating your roof, you may also find soft spots where the water damage is especially bad.
The worst example of uneven roofing is when you notice large sections of the roof are wavy and sagging—so much so you can easily spot it from the ground. An uneven roof can also be life-threatening because your roof may be on the verge of collapsing.
6. Your Roof Is Old
We've touched on time and age a bit already, but even if you can't identify any issues with your roof, you should still know that roofing over 25 years old needs replacing. No matter how good of a condition your roof looks to be in, you'll want to take a preventative measure and have it replaced. Waiting for a failure to occur can be especially disastrous if your roof has weakened from age, causing a cascade of issues.
An old roof will also just appear worn and decrepit after all it has gone through. A fresh roof, even if it's the same design, will make your home look so much better and more high-quality, which is incredibly important for your home's resale value.
7. You Think That Your Roof Is Ugly
Look, sometimes, you don't need a practical reason to have your roof replaced. A home is a massive investment, so you deserve to have one that appeals to you. Sometimes, you just want something new to refresh the look of your home. Residential roof replacements can greatly improve your home's appearance and change its style—bringing the traditional into something more contemporary to better match modern trends.
Whatever your reason, it's always valid. Take pride in your home and gain more freedom and control over what it looks like.
Re-Roof vs. Full Replacement
When looking to get work done on your roof, you'll probably see the terms "re-roof" and "full roof replacement" being thrown around. At first glance, the two terms seem interchangeable, but you must know the difference!
Re-roofing is the process of installing a second layer of shingles over the existing one. This is very much a short-term solution, as the layered shingles will perform worse than if it were a quality single layer of shingles. Two layers will also make leaks more likely and even more difficult to repair later on. Furthermore, the second layer of shingles doesn't solve anything if the larger problem has to do with the roof's structural supports.
We don't recommend re-roofing, as a full roof replacement will get the job done, give you a new high-quality roof, and keep your home protected.
Storm Damage Insurance
To help ease the burden of a full roof replacement, homeowners who experience storm damage to their roofs can submit a roof insurance claim to reduce the expense. It's possible to receive these benefits if your roof is:
- Damaged by wind or hail.
- Damaged by a fallen tree.
- Struck by lightning.
- Damaged by animals.
For quality roof replacement services, call Northpoint Roofing Systems. Our team of professional residential roofing contractors will be happy to inspect your roof for signs you need a new roof and help you determine the best course of action. Our dedicated team uses only the best roofing practices. Climbing on roofs can be dangerous for professional roofers and non-professionals alike. So, to ensure the safety of our crew and that the roof sustains no further damage while they work, we first use drone technology to inspect the condition of your roof. Contact us today to receive a quote!