How Do You Know When It’s Time for a Roof Replacement?
The weather in Colorado can wreak havoc on your home. Winter storms, heavy rain, hail, and even summer heat can wear down your roof. Eventually, you’ll want to get a roof replacement because an older, worn-down roof can start to leak and lead to damage in your home.
Signs Your Home Needs a Roof Replacement
When you finally see it, you can’t unsee it. As you pull up to your home, you realize that something about your roof looks off. It can be hard to pinpoint, but you suddenly realize that your roof is the ugly duckling in the neighborhood, and that’s not cool. Replacing the roof on your home isn’t something you probably look forward to, but it is something that needs to be done every so often. As your roof ages, it can start to wear down, and that can lead to big problems for your home. So how do you know if you need a roof replacement? Here are a few signs that your roof might need to be replaced:
- Your roof is at least 20 years old
Some of today’s roofing materials can last a lot longer, but an asphalt shingle roof that’s old enough to vote is going to start showing its age pretty soon. If your roof is older but in great shape, let it be, but keep your eyes open for other warning signs
- Your noticing leaks
There is no surer sign of a failing roof than leaks. If your roof is leaking, it’s time to take action. That water can damage the interior of your home or even cause an electrical fire.
- Shingles that are curled, torn, cracked, or missing
A couple of decades of hot summer sun, winter cold and ice, and fighting the wind can make your shingles start to curl up, crack, or simply come loose and fly off. This is a sure sign that your roof needs to be replaced.
- Visible bald spots where granules are missing
The granules that coat your shingles play an important part in the overall effectiveness of your roof. When you can see bald spots forming where those granules are falling off, your roof is on its last legs.
- An abundance of shingle granules in your gutters
If you haven’t noticed bald spots but you see a lot of granules in your rain gutters, it’s a problem. Those bald spots are right around the corner. Bald is beautiful? Not in this case.
- Dark streaks on your roof from airborne algae
Algae love to find weak spots on roofs and settle in. You can see it best from a block or so away. Your roof may have vertical dark steaks. That’s an algae bloom, and it can be nearly impossible to clean off, and if you do, you might do more damage to the roof than good.
- Moss growth on your shingles
Moss is even easier to see. Small, green tufts of green popping up on your roof are a bad sign. They’ll start to cause more and more damage until your roof starts to leak. Don’t wait for that to happen!
- Obvious damage from storms or wind
When a big storm rolls through, it can do significant damage to your roof. Hail can pelt your shingles, denting and damaging them. Wind can tear them up. Tree branches can come loose and smash portions of your roof. In most cases, it’s not worth your money to try to repair the damage. Replacing the roof is the better bet. Plus, it may be covered by your homeowner’s insurance.
- All of your neighbors are getting new roofs
Most neighborhoods pop up quickly, with most of the homes being built at the same time. If everyone else in your area is replacing their roofs, it’s a good sign that you should be taking a look at yours too. It’s like when you finally realized that you were the only one pinch-rolling your jeans. It’s time.
Not Sure? Get a Professional Opinion.
Some signs of roof damage can be very hard for the average homeowner to detect. If you aren’t sure what condition your roof is in, contact a reputable roofing company for a roof inspection. At Northern Lights Exteriors, we can inspect your roof and help you select a new roof that is made to stand up to the Colorado climate. Your home will go from the ugly duckling of the neighborhood to the sexy swan!
