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Did you know that a well-designed roof can majorly impact your energy efficiency rates?
It’s not all about how pretty your roof looks, although it never hurts your home value to have a nice shiny roof. After all, if your roof is starting to look rough, then it’s definitely time for some roof repair or even replacement.
It’s about more than the aesthetics, it’s about the actual safety of your home’s structure and its ability to regulate temperature.
However, if you don’t know the difference between your shingles from your chimney, no worries. We’ve got you covered.
Keep on reading for our full breakdown of the key seven signs that your roof needs some substantial repairs, or even a replacement might be in order.
1. The Signs of Roof Repair 101: Sagging Roof
Let’s start with the most obvious (and dangerous) sign. If you’re noticing that your roof is sagging in some areas, then it’s definitely time for a professional inspection.
You don’t need to wait for the leaking to start to schedule some roof repairs. Moreover, sagging can be an indicator that there’s a structural problem either in your home’s foundation supports or been in your attic.
Sure, you might have a sagging roof because the workman messed up their trigonometry application, or even there has been some slight shifting in your wood frames.
Those are natural occurrences and don’t specifically spell structural doom.
On the other hand, you’ll want to get a professional to do an inspection just in case, like KTM roofing. You’ll want to get a clear-cut answer to the underlying cause of the visible problem.
This way you can sleep better at night, and you won’t get to ignore a potential foundational problem in your home’s structure.
2. Your Roof Is Older Than 25 Years of Age
Generally speaking, the National Home Inspectors Association tells us that the average lifespan of a roof is somewhere between 20 and 30 years.
Once your roof hits the 25-year mark, then it’s time to schedule an inspection and get a proper assessment that would tell you whether you can coast for a couple of years with some repairs, or if you need to get a new roof replacement as soon as possible.
Sure, your roof might even look like it’s perfectly okay and functional. Yet, you need to keep in mind that leaks can take a few years to bleed through your home’s interior sheetrock, which will give you a red alert that there is a problem of some kind.
The sooner you get in your roof repairs the better. It’s much more costly in the long run if you leave the damage to accumulate on its own, with a whole separate budget needed for the potential re-framing or interior repair.
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3. Entire Shingles Have Gone Missing
If you’re playing a game of “where’s Waldo?” with your shingles, then it’s time for an inspection.
Admittedly dealing with missing shingles tends to be an easy fix. You can repair or replace entire roof sections. However, there’s a high probability that the new shingles won’t exactly match your older (and faded) shingles.
If you’re concerned about the aesthetics or entertaining the thought of putting your home on the market for sale, you might prefer to cut through the chases and replace your roof.
4. Your Shingles Have Cracked
If you’ve been noticing that your shingles are getting more and more cracked as time goes by, it’s a pretty strong sign that your roof is close to its expiry date.
Traditionally, your cracked shingles will need to get a quick fix, as these fissures can permit water to travel between the shingles.
Besides, if you’ve already replaced your old shingles with newer asphalt ones, and those are cracking too, then you’ll want to remove a couple as samples to send to the manufacturer.
This way, they can do some analysis on your shingle material, and you might be able to trigger a warranty and have them cover the cost of your replacement.
Don’t ignore a couple of cracked shingles as a design problem, as you’ll want to get a concrete review of the cause of those cracks and the condition of your remaining shingles.
5. You See Granules in Your Gutters
If you’re unfamiliar with granules, let us tell you what they are. Basically, granules are a stubby material that’s placed on top of your asphalt shingles to protect their core from sun damage.
Sure, after a new asphalt roof installation you can expect some granules shedding. On the other hand, if your roof is already 10 years or older, then it’s an indicator of a more serious problem.
The main function of those granules is to protect your home from the damaging rays of the sun, if it’s shedding, that means the deterioration speed of your shingles will accelerate.
6. Your Chimney Flashing Looks Rough
You might already know that if your flashing is made of roof cement or tar, then it’ll breakdown sooner than later. As it cracks from the sunlight, it’ll allow moisture to penetrate at the joint of your roof, as well as the chimney.
That’s why your best option would be to replace your flashing with metal flashing that’s long-lasting and watertight.
7. Seeing Daylight Through the Roof Boards
If you’re starting to see the daylight coming in through your roof boards in your attic, then it’s a solid sign that you need a new roof.
You’ll want to get in a professional inspection, and they can tell you whether there’s some sort of defect in the installation or, the roof is just old and in dire need of a replacement.
Your Roof: Your Home’s Crown
We know that the majority of people don’t really think about their roofs until there’s a serious problem. However, it’s always better to be safe than sorry and get in any needed roof repair as soon as possible.
You can view it as a form of preventative maintenance, especially if you have an aging roof.
Hopefully, our little guide on the critical signs that your roof might need some TLC has shed some light on your roof problems and pointed you in the right direction.
