4 Areas to check to see if your Roof needs to be replaced
How often do you take the time to look at your roof? For obvious reasons, your roof is one of the most important parts of your house. Without it, you would only have your foundation and four walls which are not enough to provide you with the comfort and protection that you and your loved ones need from harsh weather elements.
Like everything else, your roof will also wear out over time. Therefore, as a homeowner, you should occasionally inspect your roof to determine if it needs to be repaired or replaced. This is especially if you are planning to sell your house. One of the things that many homebuyers focus on during the negotiation process is the condition of the roof. If the buyer learns that there isn’t much roof life, he or she will negotiate for a new one.
Although the quickest way to know the state of your roof is hiring a roofing contractor for an inspection before you put it on the market, you don’t have to hire other people to conduct periodic checkups because you can check for any signs of damage that may call for roof replacement. The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that homeowners should inspect their roofs before spring and during fall. Therefore, mark your calendar for spring and fall and ensure you perform the following important checks.
4 Areas You Should Check to Determine if Your Roofs Should be Replaced:
Curling Shingles
There are two ways that your shingles can curl: These include cupping, which occurs after the edges of your shingles turn upwards, and clawing, which results after the middle part starts to rise. Roof buckling or curling is a sign that you may need a new roof soon. This is because most shingles lose their granules when they surpass their life expectancy. At this point, there is a high possibility that your roof is defective. Therefore, consult a licensed roofer to conduct an inspection and see if you are eligible for reimbursement.
Missing Shingles
From a functional point of view, there is no problem with replacing some of the missing shingles. However, it is nearly impossible to get new shingles that match the exact color of the remaining old shingles. This is because technology has changed over time and granule colors have also changed. Additionally, the color of your shingles will also have changed due to weathering. You can choose to keep replacing the missing shingles until another bigger issue appears. However, don’t wait till your roof starts looking like a checkerboard.
Roof Valleys
According to Restoration Roofing, one of the definite signs that you need a new roof is when you have missing or falling shingles in this area. This is because valleys are important parts of the roof. Rain and snow flow through these valleys into the gutters. Therefore, in case the valley is compromised, your roof can easily leak.
Cracked Shingles
Wind damage is often the course of cracked shingles, and in case only a few shingles are cracked, you can replace them. However, if the cracked shingles are in different parts of your roof, then this is a sign that you should start preparing to install a new roof.
If you find that you need to replace your roof, remember to keep weather conditions and other issues that can affect your roof in mind, when deciding on which roofing material to purchase. For instance, asphalt and wood shingles aren’t fire resistant, and this can be a big problem in case you live near a lot of dry trees.
Don’t wait for too long to replace your roof until water starts leaking into your house. Protect your home by using the listed observation skills. If you need a new roof, you should be aware that installing a roof isn’t a simple do it yourself task. It is a tiresome and dangerous project, especially if you will have to remove the old roof.
