How to Tell When Your Roof Needs to be Replaced

Think that it may be time to replace an old roof? Many homeowners often wonder when their roof needs to be replaced. Finding leaks in ceilings is often enough to make people wonder if there is something going on with their roof.

But the fact is a leak could be caused by any number of roofing issues. If a roof repair is possible, then a complete roof replacement may not be necessary. Either way, it’s best to get an opinion from a roofing company in San Antonio to determine how to address roof damage.

It’s worth noting that roofs do have expected lifespans. So if you have an older roof, it is possible that it has reached the end of it’s useful life even if you have not experienced any significant roof failure.

If this is the case for you, then you’ll want to at least consider a roof replacement soon to avoid problems with your roofing system down the road.

So what exactly are the factors that determine whether your roof needs to be replaced?

Here are 7 Factors to Tell When Your Roof Needs to Be Replaced

1 – The Age of Your Roof

The typical lifespan of a roof is between 20 to 25 years. So you’ll want to start by asking yourself how old your existing asphalt shingle roof is.

However, there are a few factors that could influence this number. For example, this may include:

• If the old roof was removed and there is only one layer of shingles
• Or how properly ventilated the roof was over the years

Above all, if your existing roof was installed over one or more layers of shingles and is over 20 years old, then your roof needs to be replaced.

2 – If Your Roof is Missing Shingles

Take a good look at your roof. Do you see any shingles missing? If so, this is an indicator of roof failure.

The shingle tabs should be intact. If not, then there may be a bigger issue with your roof that needs to be addressed.

3 – Noticing Daylight Through Roof Boards

If you walk into your attic and notice daylight seeping in, this may be an indicator that your roof needs to be fixed. While in the attic, also check your insulation. Is it dry or do you notice moisture? If you notice there is moisture, you may have water leaking in from the roof after rain.

If you notice either of these things (daylight in attic or moisture in insulation), you may try climbing up on your roof if you’re up to it. While on your roof, if it feels like you can bounce or almost spongy, this is a red flag. This means that the underlying decking is weak from moisture.

4 – If you Notice Roof Shingles Curling or Buckling

When you see shingles curling or buckling, this is another indicator of a roof that needs attention. If shingles are losing their granules, this often means that the shingles are beyond their expected lifespan.

However, if your roof is not that old, it could mean that the roof is defective. Either way, you’ll want to find the cause to determine if your roof needs to be replaced.

5 – Are there Shingle Granules Inside your Gutters?

If you take a look at your gutters and notice that there are shingle granules inside of them, this means they are falling off of your roof. When roofs get older they tend to lose more of their granules.

In addition to your gutters, if you notice that your roof looks discolored in some spots, this could also mean more shingle granules have fallen in those areas.

6 – Chimney Flashing

A leaky chimney can cause a number of costly problems. A good option for chimney flashing is a metal flashing system. Unlike tar or roof cement, metal flashing is a longer-term option that is preventative against chimney leaks with water tight fitting.

So if you haven’t thought about it before, consider this as an option if you have a leaky chimney.

7 – Your Roof Valleys

Roof valleys are one of the most important parts of any roof. If you notice that there are missing shingles in this area or have fallen off, then your roof may need to be replaced. This is because the valleys are what help water flow off of your roof or into gutters.

When there is damage to roof valleys, then leaks in your roof are much more likely.

Our San Antonio Roofing Company is Here When Your Roof Needs to be Replaced

If after learning about the different signs that indicate you may need to replace your roof, and are ready for a roof replacement, we would be glad to help. We have helped many homeowners in San Antonio and the surrounding area replace their roofs over the years and can do the same for you.

We stand by our 10-year workmanship warranty for all roof replacements and will deliver a quality roof you will love. Contact us for a free, no-obligation estimate today.