Your roof is one of the most important parts of your house. If you are planning to sell your house, it’s important to have a roof that’s in good condition. Many home insurance companies require an inspection of the roof before they will provide insurance on your home.
There are certain things that you can look for when you think that your roof might be ready for replacement. Understanding the signs that you need a new roof will help you determine if it is time to have a professional crew replace your roof.
1. Know the Age of Your Roof
Most asphalt roofs will typically last 20 to 25 years while other materials can last longer. If your home has an asphalt roof that is approaching this age, you may want to think about getting it replaced. This also depends on whether or not this is the first roof that was installed. There could be two roofs layered on each other which shortens the lifespan of the roof.
2. Damaged or Warped Shingles
One way to tell the condition of your roof is to look at your shingles. When you see that your shingles are peeling back, curling, buckling, or cracked, it is probably time for a new roof.
If many shingles all over the roof are showing damage, take this as a sign that you need a new roof. If just a couple isolated shingles show signs of damage, a temporary shingle replacement fix will buy you some time before a full roof replacement.
3. Widespread Missing Shingles
Missing a significant amount of shingles on your roof means it is beyond fixing and needs to be replaced. If a big part of your roof is bare and doesn’t have shingles, your roof deck has no protection from the elements. The best course of action is to take off the old roof and install a new one.
4. Shingle Granules Appearing in the Gutters
When you are cleaning your gutters and you see what looks like tiny pebbles in them, this may be one of the signs that you need a new roof. This means that your shingles are losing their granules. Granules help the shingles repel water, and if your shingles don’t have them it is a major sign of wear and tear that will eventually lead to water damage.
5. You Can See Daylight Coming Through the Roof
You will have to go into the attic to see if there is daylight coming through the boards in your roof. If you are seeing sunlight through your roof, water can seep into your roof too. It is important that you replace your roof when it has the potential to leak and cause some serious damage during rainstorms.
What to Do if You See Signs That You Need a New Roof
Schedule a roof inspection if you are noticing any of these signs that you need a new roof. Don’t put off replacing your roof if it’s time for a new one. A new roof will add value to your property and help protect your home and possessions from the elements.
Greater Tampa Home Inspections serves Tampa and the surrounding area with 4-Point Inspections, Wind Mitigation Inspections, and other inspection services. Contact us to book an inspection.