Storm season is on its way, and with it comes high winds, lightning, heavy rainfall and even hail, which all take their toll on the part of your house that keeps you dry and safe from the elements: your roof.
As we enter into late summer and early fall, you should know that autumn is usually considered by many to be the best time to replace a roof if you need it done: the weather is still good, you’ve got time to make decisions before winter storms arrive. (Counterpoint: Fall is when roofers are the most busy, so scheduling can be tough! Get to the front of the line if you can.)
But what are the signs - visible and otherwise - you should be looking for in order to decide whether it’s time for a new roof? What should you know to determine if you can stick it out for another few years? Here’s what to keep an eye out for:
How Does Your Attic Look?
It may seem obvious, but in case you haven’t been into your attic lately for a quick look, pop your head up there to see if there are any leaks, dampness or signs of light coming through your roof. You may also want to check your insulation for dampness or water, and make sure your ventilation system is getting any moist air out of the attic as well. Any of these might be a major telltale sign that you’re due for a new roof, but a leak or a crack may not be immediately visible until the damage starts to seep down through your ceilings and walls. Get ahead of that if you can.
How Are Your Shingles?
Good shingles are flat and fully intact. Bad shingles will appear to be curling, cracking, cupping, lifting off the roof, or missing entirely. If your roof appears to be sagging, this could be an indication that your shingles are allowing enough water beneath them to soak the wood beneath, which is a major indicator of damage. One indicator that isn’t so obvious? Check your gutters: if you’re seeing shingle granules building up in there, that’s another sign that your shingles have aged out of their lifespan and lost their full effectiveness as they start to flake off and disintegrate.
Is There Any Discoloration?
As those shingle granules disappear, their ability to prevent the growth of things like mold and algae departs as well. If you’re seeing dark streaks or patches on your roof, cleaning them quickly will help stave off major damage - but moss left unattended can creep its small root system into your shingles and start letting water seep through, shortening your roof’s lifespan. Algae is less damaging - mostly cosmetic -but healthy shingles should be able to keep algae at bay, so use it as an indicator that at the very least, an inspection is due.
What Are Your Neighbors Doing?No, we’re not telling you to jump on a roof-replacement bandwagon if some folks in your neighborhood already have the roofers on site. Rather, if your house is in a subdivision or a neighborhood where most of the houses were all built at the same time, their decision might be an indication that your new roof is due.
If your neighbor’s house is the same age as yours, built with the same materials and possibly by the same crew, and he or she is replacing or re-shingling their roof? It might be time to review your options, especially if your house was built 20-25 years ago.
And who knows? You might even be able to negotiate a preferable rate for yourself or a referral discount for your neighbor, which is just a smart good-neighbor move.
If you're ready to get going on a new roof before colder weather returns, the team at
Final Touch Construction and Remodeling
should be your first call for assistance. Whether it’s a new roof, adding an outdoor deck, exterior siding or remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, Final Touch has
25 years of experience working with hundreds of homes and businesses in the Cleveland area.
