There is no denying the fact that the roof of your house is one of, if not the most important component of your entire home’s structure. It keeps you protected at all times; during storms, snowfall, and heatwaves. However, we often miss out on the fact that the roof ages with time and loses its integrity and strength. This wear and tear of the roof can lead to major safety risks for you and your family.
We often don’t realize we need to get new roofing unless the roof either starts to leak or we see visible cracks forming on it. The signs of roof damage generally appear when the damage has gone too far, and by the time you notice it, it’s too late to fix anything. However, keeping a vigilant eye on the signs that show that you need new roofing is surely going to help you a great deal.
1. Curled Shingles
The curling of shingles is a very important sign that indicates that your roof has gotten old, and it won’t be too long before you need to get new roofing installed. The shingles may curve in two ways; its edges can turn inwards (cupping), or its edges may stay intact, but get raised from the center (clawing). If you observe any of these signs, get the roof inspected immediately to know how long you have left before you need to have new roofing installed.
2. Missing Shingles
Since the roof is constantly exposed to the environment, damage to it is quite inevitable. You may observe entire shingles are missing from the roof, making your roof look like a checkerboard. Most of the time, people tend to ignore when a shingle or two goes missing because it is not easy to get shingles of the same color to match the rest of the roof. However, if the appearance of the roof becomes too ‘aged,’ getting new roofing is probably the best thing to do.
3. Cracked Shingles
Strong winds can cause the shingles to crack. If it is just a few cracked shingles here and there, you may let them be, but if the cracked shingles are spread throughout a large part of the roof, it is a telltale sign that indicates it is high time that you consider getting new roofing installed.
4. Granules in Gutters
Granules serve as a protective layer that protects the asphalt of the roofing material from the sun. If you haven’t had your roof replaced for a good 10 to 15 years, and you notice granules in the gutters, you should be alarmed.
When the granule layer sheds off, the shingles get exposed to direct sunlight, which accelerates the damage they face. Usually, by the time you start noticing granules in the gutters, the shingles are most likely to have reached half of their life. This is when you should know that your roof won’t stay in proper working condition for very long.
5. Sunlight in the Attic
If you see sunlight filtering into your attic, it is definitely not a good sign. If sunlight can get in, so can rain, snow, or chilled air. This is the ultimate sign that the roof is giving in, and it’s time to get new roofing installed.
Summary
If the shingles of your roof are missing, curled, or cracked, or you can see granules in gutters and sunlight in your attic, you should know that you need to get new roofing installed.
