Having a solid roof over your head means that you have a warm, cozy, and leak-free home. It also translates to an energy-efficient home. However, your home can quickly lose all these benefits if the roof sustains damage.
It can be hard sometimes to decide when to call in the professionals.
Here are some warning signs that indicate it might be time to replace your roof.
1. Your roof is getting on in years.
The lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof is 20-30 years. Roofs older than that tend to be problematic even though they may look good on the outside. Some factors such as the material shingles are made from as well as the weather determine how fast the roof ages. If you are in doubt about the integrity of your roof, call in the professionals for a quick inspection.
2. The shingles are curling or cupping.
Shingles can either show cupping i.e. when the edges turn upwards or clawing when the edges remain flat but the middle part rises up. Either of these indicates weathering and shows that further problems like leaking are on the way. Get ahead of this by replacing the shingles.
3. You can see sunlight pouring into your attic.
Lots of light getting into your attic through the roof is a sign of roofing problems. If light can get in, so can snow, rain, cold air, and vermin. This isn’t a good situation as it shows that the roof has cracked or has missing shingles. The best solution is to call in roofing experts for a full inspection so they can determine if some light roof repair and maintenance will do or if the entire roof needs to be replaced.
4. Shingles are missing from the roof.
A few missing shingles here and there is no problem. They can be easily replaced as long as you don’t mind the newer ones looking significantly different from the older ones. However, if your roof starts looking like a checkerboard, it might be time to replace the entire thing. To be on the safe side you can call in a roofing contractor to ensure that the missing shingles aren’t caused by faulty installation.
5. Your roof is leaking.
A leaking roof could be down to several things including blocked gutters, missing shingles, or storm damage. Either way, this isn’t something to be ignored. The best solution is to call in a roofing company for a roof inspection as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your home. The roofing contractors should be able to tell whether a few repairs or an entire roof replacement is called for.
6. There is mold or fungi inside your home.
Noticing mold or fungi inside the home is a sure sign of water damage and that water has to be coming from somewhere. A damaged roof is the likely culprit in this case. Deal with this issue as soon as you notice it because other than property damage, mold can also cause respiratory illness.
7. You notice water stains in your home.
Water stains on the ceilings are another sign of water finding its way inside your home. This is especially true if you notice the stains on the upper floors of your home. Stains on the walls or lower floors could mean that you have leaky pipes. Either way, it’s best to call in roofing professionals to check it out before mold or fungi appear or something worse happens.
8. The paint is peeling.
A damaged and leaky roof could also lead to peeling paint. This mostly occurs on cement walls and the problem could be due to a few missing or misplaced shingles or something more serious. The best way to find out is by having roofing experts take a look at it. Depending on the damage, you could be looking at replacing some shingles on a small part of the roof or installing an entirely new one altogether.
9. The entire roof sags or droops.
A sagging or drooping roof can be caused by deep water damage or structural issues. The latter can be easily sorted out by installing extra struts or rafters. However, if the problem is caused by a roof that’s too heavy for the home, the entire thing needs to be replaced with lighter roofing materials. The roof will also need to be replaced if the problem is due to deep water damage.
10. The shingles are covered with fungi, moss, or mold.
Mold, moss, or fungi need moisture to grow. Spotting them on your shingles could mean nothing more than a cosmetic issue. If you don’t like how the roof looks, call in the experts at Christian Roofing Brothers. We’ll be able to advise if there’s a more serious issue at play or if the moss and fungi can be removed with a nice deep clean.
11. You find granules in the gutters.
If you have a new asphalt shingle roof, then finding a few loose granules in the gutters shouldn’t be a cause for worry. But if your roof is 10-15 years old and is constantly shedding granules, then maybe it’s at the end of its shelf life. These granules help protect the home from the elements so it’s always better to replace a shedding roof before the situation worsens.
Get a Professional Opinion
Don’t panic once you notice any of these signs and assume that you need to have your whole roof replaced. Chances are your roof could be fine with a few minor repairs. A little repair and maintenance can greatly extend the life of your roof. However, if there is extensive damage or if the roof is too old, then a complete replacement will have to be done.
To be sure, contact Christian Brothers Roofing to schedule a free roof inspection. We’ll be glad to check out your roof and give our professional opinion on whether it’s time to have it replaced or whether you need any of our other Georgia roofing services. Give us a call today to minimize damage to your beautiful home.