Signs Your Home Needs A Roof
*Collaborative post
As a homeowner, it’s important to know when it’s time to get a new roof. While it isn’t cheap, $5,346 to $10,793 depending on your location and the size of your house, it may be a necessity.
Even if your roof hasn’t sprung a leak or failed in another major way, it may have naturally reached the end of its useful life. If it has and replacing it is delayed, that could mean much bigger problems in the long run.
For those planning to put their home on the market among the Jacksonville houses for sale, or anywhere else, if an inspection reveals that the roof needs to be replaced, you’ll either have to get a new one or take what could be a large financial loss.
Watch for these warning signs so that you’ll know when your home needs its roof replaced.
Your Roof Is Old
If you know what your roof is made of and how old it is, you’ll have a good idea as to how long it might last. An asphalt shingle roof lasts on average around 20 to 30 years, but a roof that was installed on top of a layer of shingles that was already there should be replaced after about 20 years. If you live in a planned community with homes that were constructed around the same time and notice that a few of your neighbors have begun to replace their roofs, that’s a good sign yours is due as well.
The Shingles Aren’t Flat
Take a close look at your roof. Are your shingles lying flat against it? If they’re curling, with the edges turning upward, buckling, cracked or damaged in any way, it’s a sign of weathering and potential problems, including possible leaks. You might also see shingle granules in your downspouts and gutters. If it’s not brand new, once the granules strat falling off the shingles will be baking in the sun and the quality of your roof will start to deteriorate fast. It’s another sign that it’s likely to be reaching the end of its life and you need to get it replaced soon.
Missing Shingles
If shingles are missing, you can simply replace a few here and there and it shouldn’t cause any problems, just realize that it may be difficult or impossible to get new ones that match your old ones. You can continue to patch until a larger issue arises, but if it’s beginning to look like a checkerboard, it’s better off replaced.
It’s Sagging
If your roof is sagging or looking droopy, it definitely needs to be replaced ASAP before further damage occurs to your home. Look for sagging spots, particularly at the roof’s lowest points, as well as for rotting boards and signs of trapped moisture.
Moss Is Taking Over
Moss can make your yard look beautiful and lush, in a shady corner under the tree for example, but if moss (or mold) is on your roof it may indicate that there is trapped moisture which can destroy it quickly. Use a stiff brush to eliminate moss that may be collecting in the corners to prevent it from spreading, being careful to address any underlying issues.
