Reliable roofs are essential in all residential homes, but roofs don’t last forever. Knowing when you need a new roof is tricky for most homeowners because the common signs are difficult to spot unless you inspect your roof regularly. And even if you do check your roof regularly, you may not know what signs to look for.
This guide will go over the most important signs that tell you when it’s time to get a roof replacement done. You can keep an eye out for them easily, as they’re not difficult to spot once you know what to look for. However, remember that the signs for new roofing may differ depending on the material of your home’s roof.
6 WARNING SIGNS THAT YOU NEED TO REPLACE YOUR ROOF ASAP
- Moss/Vegetation
- Damaged/Cracked/Missing Shingles
- Leaking Water
- Shedding Granules
- Outside Light Is Visible In Your Attic
- High Energy Bills
MOSS/VEGETATION
At first, moss may seem like a harmless byproduct of nature running its course on your roof over the course of a year. It grows gradually, which makes it difficult to catch early on unless you check your roof closely for moss and algae growth. The more it grows, the more likely it is to work its way into your roof’s shingles and tiles and cause severe breaks and cracks.
Because of this, you always want to eliminate moss and other vegetation growth when you come across it. One way to prevent moss growth is to cut away any low-hanging branches of nearby trees. That way, more sunlight can reach your roof. Moss needs moisture to grow, so the less moisture on your roof, the better the chances of it remaining moss-free.
Otherwise, you’ll be in the market for a new roof, as there’s little chance of salvaging a roof once it suffers further damage from moss.
DAMAGED/CRACKED/MISSING ROOF SHINGLES
When you know what to look for, you can spot a cracked roof shingle from the ground. However, when you’re unfamiliar with checking your roof for damage, it’s always best to get a closer look at your many shingles to see their condition. You can fix a handful of cracked roof shingles by filling them in. Typically, a sealant is the best option for fixing cracked shingles that have cracks, so you don’t have to call a professional.
Help from a professional is only necessary when you’re dealing with a large number of damaged shingles. In the event that the majority of your roof’s shingles suffer from some damage, a full roof replacement with new shingles is often preferable to repairing each shingle.
Failing to conduct roof repair on a damaged shingle can cause many problems, the worst of which is a roof leak that can lead to even worse issues for the interior of your house.
LEAKING WATER
On the topic of a leaky roof, leaks in the roof of your house are one of the most obvious signs that you need a new roof. The best time to check for leaks is when it’s raining or shortly after. Check for water leaking through the ceiling and puddles anywhere on the floor.
Even if you cannot determine where the water is leaking through, knowing there is a leak is good enough. Unfortunately, fixing a leaky roof is a task best left to professionals because doing it wrong will only make the situation worse.
After identifying the location of the leak, you can place a bucket beneath to catch any water, that way, you don’t have to deal with water leaking through the ceiling into the room below.
SHEDDING GRANULES
If you’re unfamiliar with granules, they’re the little bits of stone that you can see on an asphalt shingle. While they might look completely random to the untrained eye, roof granules have to be a specific size for them to go on many shingles. Protecting the asphalt from sunlight is their primary function, as sunlight causes further damage after it sits on asphalt for a long enough period.
Like anything else, granules start to wear out over time and eventually come off the shingles. Oftentimes, they fall into the gutters that run around your roof, and this causes clogging once enough of the granules buildup.
To avoid this issue, check your asphalt shingles regularly for granule loss and your gutters for granules. There isn’t a lot you can do to permanently stop asphalt shingles from shedding granules since shingles wear down, so try to keep an eye out for them and keep your gutters as clear as possible.
OUTSIDE LIGHT IS VISIBLE IN YOUR ATTIC
One thing you never want to see when you enter your attic is light coming in from the outside. It’s a surefire sign that you have a hole in your roof, and there’s no shortage of reasons which make that a significant issue.
Water can leak through a hole, and depending on the size of the hole, some debris may also be able to enter. You can attempt to repair the hole with various DIY fixes, but it’s best to opt for a more permanent solution to avoid having the hole reopen later.
Also, it would be advisable to have a full roof inspection of your roof to check for other small holes you may not see outside light coming in through.
HIGH ENERGY BILLS
Abnormally high energy bills are another indicator of a roof replacement being necessary. Unlike the other roof warning signs covered here, high energy bills are not as obvious as a sign because you can’t visibly see them by doing a roof inspection.
High energy bills can help you discover holes in your roof because they indicate your home’s HVAC system is working harder than usual. During winter, cold air can seep through your roof, and hot air can do the same in the summer, so you’ll have higher energy bills the more intense the weather becomes.
WATCH FOR MORE WARNING SIGNS YOU NEED A NEW ROOF
Responsible homeowners, look for many indicators to tell when you’re in need of a roof replacement, but these six are among the most common you’ll find. Outside of old age, they’re also some of the most troubling issues for your roof when left unattended.
Because of that, ensure you address them as soon as you discover them unless you want to deal with costly repairs to have your roof replaced with fresh roofing materials.