Your roof is 10-15 years old but it’s not leaking, how do you know how much longer it’s going to last or more importantly, how do you know if your roof needs to be replaced?
A leak in your roof is not the only sign that your roof needs to be repaired or replaced. There are other more subtle signs that if not detected can end up costing you a lot more money.
We wrote this article to give you – as a homeowner or a new home buyer – some basic points to look for to determine if a roof needs to be replaced or not.
As an important note, if you’re looking at your roof and aren’t sure about any single one of these points, please do not hesitate to call us for a free roof inspection. We offer free roof inspections to assess the state of your roof and if you need a roof repair or a full roof replacement.
Signs That Your Roof Needs Repair
- CURLED SHINGLES
Curled or buckled shingles means your roof is getting old. Shingles generally curl or buckle because moisture is built up underneath them or in the attic space under the roof, forcing nails to come loose. As nails come loose and a shingle curve out of place, your home could be exposed to outside elements such as wind, dirt, rain, and even rats, insects, and bugs. Your shingle is also more prone to blowing off in the middle of a storm, leaving you with a roof leak that is not easy to fix while it’s raining. - ALGAE GROWTH
When you see what appears to be algae growing on your roof this is essentially bacteria eating away your roof’s shingles’ waterproofing properties. Some shingle companies use certain materials, for example, limestone, to produce shingles at lower costs. Bacteria however eat these materials away and show up as algae or black streaks. If you see algae on an old roof, it’s a sign that you most likely need to get your roof replaced. - YOUR SHINGLES ARE LOSING GRANULES
It’s normal to find some granules in your gutters and drains after a storm or after it rains. However, if your roof is losing a lot of granules then this is a sign that the shingles are getting old and are being worn out by Florida’s weather. If you see a lot of granules building up at the bottom of your drain or in your gutters, it’s best to call a professional roofer to come to check it out and see if your roof needs to be replaced or not. - MOLD OR MOISTURE BUILDUP
An important part of your roof is a good ventilation system for your attic, just under your roof. Poor ventilation can cause moist air to rise. The warm air, not being able to escape the attic, will try to escape through the nail holes in your roof’s deck and will eventually start to make the nails rust and the shingles moldy. If caught early on, this can generally be repaired. But if not seen or if moisture builds up and causes too much mold, your roof may need to be completely replaced. - MISSING SHINGLES
Florida’s weather can be pretty harsh on your roof however a new shingle roof should easily withstand it. But as your roof becomes older, it starts to wear down and break apart. While a few missing shingles can be repaired, if your roof is very old and you’re missing a lot of shingles this can be a sign that you need a roof replacement. - ATTIC TEMPERATURE
If you’ve ever been in your attic and noticed that it’s much hotter than outside, this is a sign that your attic has poor ventilation. This can be caused by either bad design or sometimes the insulation between the roof’s deck and the roof itself is built so that it doesn’t let any air flow past it. If you notice that your attic’s temperature is much hotter than outside, call a professional roofer to come to check it out. In many cases, this can be fixed by a roof repair, and in some cases, you’ll need to replace your roof, as the roofing company will need to build a better tier of insulation. - HIGH ENERGY BILLS
Your roof not only protects your home from outside elements, but it also helps insulate your home keeping cool air in, or hot air in during Florida’s few weeks of cooler weather (sorry, it’s hard to use the word “cold” when describing Florida’s winter). High energy bills could be a sign that your roof is no longer doing its job of insulating your home. This is evidently the case should your energy bills increase over time without you having changed much at home.
These are just signs that your roof needs to be replaced. There may be other signs and of course, we’ve left out some of the obvious ones, like a leak in your roof or water dripping down the walls of your home. But no matter what signs you notice, it’s important that you call a professional roofer.
Most professional roofing companies offer completely free inspections and can come out and let you know if your roof is fine or if it needs a roof replacement or roof repair.
