Let’s start this article by asking you a question:
What is the condition of your home’s roof?
Chances are unless your roof is leaking or unless it shows obvious signs of damage you might now know it’s the condition or whether it needs to be replaced or not.
We understand, your roof isn’t something you think about every day, and it’s certainly not as visible as inside of your house. And you’re not climbing on your roof every other week, or at least we hope you’re not!
Protecting your home from outside elements, your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. Can you imagine what your home would be like without a roof? Neither can we!
Knowing when your roof should be replaced can help you replace it in a timely manner, preventing further damage to the interior parts of your house.
To start with, one of the most important factors about your roof is its age.
How old is your roof?
A roof that is old doesn’t necessarily mean it needs replacement, however, it is something you should start considering, especially if your roof has been giving you problems.
Below is a generally recommended roof replacement schedule based on what type of roof you have:
- Composition Shingles: 12-20 years
- Asphalt Shingles: 15-30 years
- Wood Shingles: 20-25 years
- Rubber Roofs: 30-50 years
- Metal Roofs: 50-75 years
As Florida’s climate is very radical and can be very harsh on your roof, also read What Type of Roof is Best for a Florida Home.
Apart from its age, what other signs should you look out for to tell if your roof needs to be replaced?
Here are a few things that could mean you need to replace your roof:
- Loose, cracked, or damaged shingles
- Missing shingles
- Sagging
- Mold or rot
- Signs of water damage or leaking
- Holes or dark spots
How Often Should I Get My Roof Inspected?
Just like most things, your roof requires routine inspections and maintenance. The more often you do your inspections and repair any issues found, the longer your roof will last. We suggest that you call a professional roofer to conduct bi-annual roof inspections. Doing this will allow routine visual checks to be done on parts of your roof you don’t normally see to ensure that it’s still in good shape. Doing routine inspections will also catch small problems ahead of time allowing them to be fixed before leaks occur.
