8 Warning Signs You Need a New Roof

Published on Monday February 13, 2017

Evidence that you need to replace your roof is sometimes subtle and happens over time.  

One thing is certain: if you wait until your ceiling starts to turn weird colors or there’s water dripping on your head, you’ve waited too long. By the time roof damage shows itself inside your home, you’ve missed your chance to simply replace your roof. Now you’re going to need to fix the rest of your house, too.

That’s why it’s important to practice regular roof maintenance and look for signs of damage. How do you know if you need a new roof?

If you’re seeing any of these eight signs, it’s quite possible that you need a roof replacement.

1. Missing Shingles 

Over time, strong wind, thunder, and lightning storms can tear shingles off your roof and allow water to penetrate into the sheathing layers beneath. This can result in rot, which can be challenging to repair. 

If you notice missing shingles after a storm, it’s best to call in a professional right away. 

2. Curling Shingles 

Shingles can begin to curl and break after a few years of wear and tear caused by heat and moisture. Curling shingles are often a result of poor attic ventilation or shingle double layering. 

3. Double Layering

The worst way to replace a roof is to install a second layer of roofing material over the first one. This is also known as a “nail over.” While this type of roof replacement can be cheap, it’s also incredibly ineffective and can cause more severe damage to your home over time. 

Placing a second layer of shingles over already rotten sheathing will shorten the life of a roof and cost you much more when you need a replacement, since two layers of roofing material need to be removed.

Not only does this add a significant amount of weight to your home – it’s almost like having two roofs – but the additional shingle layers will also absorb more heat and can cause premature deterioration.  

In the end, you cannot know the full extent of roof damage unless you remove all roof material down to the sheathing.

4. Clogged Gutters

Gutters play a significant role in keeping water off of your roof and preventing moisture damage to your home.  It’s important to keep gutters clear of obstructions, so we recommend cleaning them at least twice per year. 

When cleaning your gutters, look out for shingle granules or pieces of roofing material, as this could indicate a deteriorating roof.

5. Damaged Flashing

Flashing, with the help of underlayment, keeps water from getting underneath your shingles.

Keep your eyes peeled for rusted or missing flashing around chimneys, vent pipes and at the valley between roof parts. This could allow water to seep into your attic over time.

6. Moss & Mold Growth

When moisture collects in your attic or between the layers of your roof without a way to escape, it can cause moss and mold to grow, killing your roof from the inside out. Spores spread between the tiny cracks between shingles since these dark, damp spaces provide the perfect conditions for growth. 

Not only are mossy, moldy shingles aesthetically unpleasant, but they can lead to more intense roof damage over time.

7. Weakened Decking

As the base of your roof, decking acts as a support for all other roof layers installed on top like the underlayment, flashing and shingles. Therefore, if there’s damage to your decking, there’s likely damage to other parts of your roof as well.

When water makes its way to your roof decking, the wood can warp, bend and rot—and when this happens, it cannot support the weight of the rest of your roof. This can have severe consequences, putting your whole roof at risk of collapse.

8. Age 

Less of a warning sign than a general rule of thumb, age is a good indicator of how to tell if you need a new roof. 

If your roof was installed properly with good materials, you can expect 12-15 years of life (or longer if you have a metal roof).  If a roof is nearing the end of its useful life, it’s probably time to consider replacement.

Remember, roof damage only gets worse with time.

Need a Roof Replacement?

Aside from the subtle to not-so-subtle signs of damage we talked about, there’s one more reason you might consider getting a roof replacement. That reason? You’re selling your home.

A compromised roof can complicate a housing sale very quickly.  Even in a brisk “seller’s market,” a damaged roof makes the home less desirable to buyers.

Your first thought may be to sell the house as is and let the buyer worry about it.  Most of the time, this strategy will cost you a lot of money.

• Buyers want more than the price of the roof for a discount.
• Lenders don’t want to extend a mortgage on a house with roof damage.
• Insurance companies inspect homes and deny coverage to houses with bad roofs.

Bottom line: Unless you’re willing to take significantly less than your home is worth and limit buyers to those who offer cash, a good roof is required to sell your home.

When you need a new roof, contact Long Roofing online today to request an estimate.

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