Knowing When to Replace Your Roof
Every homeowner knows how crucial a roof is. When you are already used to a warm, cozy and leak-free home, it is difficult to live in any other way. Damage to your roof places you, your family and your property in danger. You need to watch out for warning signs that show it is time to replace your roof and then get to replacing it.
Life Span
On average, asphalt roofs last between 20 and 30 years. Beyond that, the roof begins to wear out. From the outside, the roof may still look and show no signs of wearing out but there is definitely a problem on ground even though you cannot tell. If your roof is at 25, you probably have 5 to 10 years left depending on your roof’s condition. Replace it as soon as possible.
Curling Shingles
Shingles usually curl in two ways:
- First, there is cupping which usually happens when the edges of the shingles turn upward
- Second, there is clawing which is when the edges stay flat and the middle starts to come up
Both ways are signs of weathering and indicate that the impeding risks like leaking are just about to come into fruition. When your shingles are curled, your roof has about 1 to 5 years left before it needs replacement.
Entire Shingles are Missing
It’s okay to replace shingles here and there even when they are missing. The problem is that patching up only works until the point where a bigger problem presents itself. Furthermore, it is usually difficult to get a new shingle that matches the colour of an old. So when you keep patching, your roof ends up looking like a checkerboard. Simply replace your roof when you notice that your entire shingles are missing.
Cracked Shingles
Cracked shingles are the result of wind damage. When it is only a few shingles that are cracked, you can replace only those. If the cracking is not isolated to one area and it is happening all around the roof, then you should start thinking about a new roof. If your shingles are cracked, your roof will last for three to five years before you may need to replace the whole roof.
Granules in Gutters
Granules are what help keep the sun off the asphalt. When they begin to fall off and the shingles begin to bake, the quality of your roof will deteriorate quickly.
Shingles are covered in moss or algae
This has to do with the cosmetic appeal of the roof. You can choose to replace the roof or not because the moss and algae do not affect the performance of the roof. Don’t just try to wash or scrap them away.
The Roof is Sagging
A sagging roof indicates a problem with the structure like a decking problem in the attic or with supports in the foundation. Call for help immediately you notice this.
Don’t delay in roof replacement. As long as the warning signs are there, it is time to do it.
In Awe Roofing Limited is an Award-Winning, family owned and operated Vancouver Roofing Contractor with over 17 years of roofing experience. We serve the entire Lower Mainland area, from Whistler to Chilliwack, employing a team of professional staff members. Our team has won numerous awards including Best of Homestars for the last five years, and Three Best Rated six years in a row. Learn more
