Homeowner:  How do I know if I need a new roof?

Roofing Authority:  All roofs age, and generally – at least with asphalt shingles – you need a new roof when yours is between 20 and 30 years old.

You can also tell that you need a roof if you see visible signs of damage, such as:

• Water damage or leaks. If your roof is leaking, you may just need to have the leak repaired – but in more severe cases, the entire roof needs to be replaced. Water leaks never get better with time; they only become worse, and a small leak can cause major damage. Even a minor leak can spiral out of control quickly, leaving you scrambling to replace your roof.

• Sagging ceilings. If your roof is sagging and it feels soft to the touch (kind of like soggy cardboard), there’s a chance that your roof is leaking. You need to address both the leak and the ceiling – and whatever else is happening with your roofing materials, such as wood rot or mold growth – and that may mean replacing your entire roof.

• Wildlife damage. Unfortunately, squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and insects can burrow into your roofing materials and cause significant damage. Sometimes small repairs are enough, but in other cases, you may need to replace your roof.

• Decaying shingles. If your shingles are in bad shape, you may need to replace them – and you may also need to replace the materials beneath them. You should have a professional roof inspector check out your entire roof from end to end to determine how severe the damage is.

• Bald spots on shingles. Shingles are made with tiny granules on top of them, and those granules help your roof shed water. They also protect each shingle and all your roofing materials from water incursion. If those granules are missing, it’s important that you replace the damaged shingles as soon as possible; in some cases, it’s too late and the whole roof needs to be replaced.

• Missing or broken shingles. Missing or broken shingles can’t protect your roof the way they’re designed to, so they need to be replaced immediately. If no water has made its way into your roof, you may be able to get away with just replacing those shingles – but if it has, you may have a bigger repair job (or replacement) on the horizon.

Homeowner:  How would I know if a Storm may have damaged my roof and I should call my Insurance company?

Roofing Authority:  A good rule of thumb to follow is to watch when your neighbors start getting new roofs; there’s a good chance that their homes are about the same age as yours is, so when they start hiring roofing companies, it may be time for you to do the same.

Homeowner:  We were turned down by our insurance company for a new roof.  Is it now a dead issue?

Roofing Authority:  Not necessarily.   That's why it is always recommended to follow up with a Free Roof Analysis from us to make sure actual damage wasn't overlooked!  It's FREE!  What do you have to lose?