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5 Warning Signs You May Need a New Roof

January 18, 2017

5 Warning Signs You Need a New Roof

Determine the age of your roof

There are many signs that your roof could potentially be reaching the end of its life. Many experts in the roofing industry agree that an average roof will last anywhere between 20 and 25 years, while higher quality roofs will last between 30 and 50 years. If your roof has only one layer over the decking instead of many, chances are you have a newer roof. However, if this is not the case, your roof could potentially be more than 20 years of age and should consider the thought of installing a new roof that matches the building requirements of your municipality. Should you have any doubts about the age of your roof, never hesitate to get an expert opinion from a local, trusted roofing company like Summit Roofing Solutions.

The Shingles

What is your first impression after assessing the shingles on your roof? Are they curling and buckling, or are they lying flat and sticking properly? When you can visibly see missing shingles, or shingles that aren’t sticking and are buckling, it could possibly mean that your roof is running out of life or defective material was used. A simple test can be used to see whether or not your roof has much life left. Simply lift at the bottom of the shingle gently to see if the shingles are still adhering properly. Do this test in various places throughout the surface area of your roof. If your shingles do not come lose with this method, chances are your roof is still in working condition. If your shingles are not sticking properly along many areas of the roof, it might be time to consider a new roof installation. As always, contact a licensed roofing contractor if you’re not sure whether or not this applies to you.

Monitor your gutters for granules

Look in your gutters for loose granules coming off your shingles after any sort of storm. Roofs tend to lose more granules towards the end of their life. If you’re able to see a large amount of granule in your gutters it may be time to consider a roof replacement. If

you especially notice more granule in the gutters where the valleys are, you may be more susceptible to leaks. Elements such as rain or snow find their way through the valleys into your gutters, causing more wear and tear in these areas of your roof. This is why it is always a good idea to double up on protection in the valleys of your home. Summit Roofing Solutions installs an ice & water barrier under the shingles and on top of the synthetic underlayment on all of our roofing projects to insure maximum protection. Another method to insure you will not get any leaks in your valleys during the winter is to install heat taps at least half way up in order to keep ice buildup at bay. If you are experiencing any leaking around these areas of your home, give us a call, and we will be more than happy to help.

Check for Hail Damage

When looking for hail impact marks on your roof there are things you should be looking for and determining before turning in a claim to your home insurance provider. Most home owner insurance companies will be looking for a minimum of 8-10 impact marks on each facet of your home inside a 10’x10’ area before they replace your entire roof. Other areas to look for hail damage are along the gutters, fascia, and on any venting you may have on your roof. Sometimes hail impact marks can be hard to determine on a roof that is older than 20-25 years of age. If you have any questions on whether or whether not, you have hail damage call a local roofing company like Summit Roofing Solutions. We will come out and assess the damage at no charge. It always helps to get expert opinions on damages to your roof caused by mother nature before you put in a claim. Sometimes it isn’t necessary to put in a claim if you don’t need to.

Inspect your attic

If you’re able, get into your attic in order to see if there is any moisture or not. One way to tell if your attic is getting moisture is to test your plywood. Are there are any spots on your roof that sink or give in when walking on top of it? You might have rotted or rotting plywood. Should any areas on your roof fit this description, call a local, licensed roofer immediately to assess the damage caused by the rotting plywood and to find out what could possibly be causing the moisture in the first place.