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Know when it\u2019s time to run for cover \u2014 and by that, we mean call in RoofKing.
A solid roof above your head is pretty crucial if you\u2019ve become accustomed to having a warm, cozy, and leak-free home. Here\u2019s how to notice and deal with potential issues before they become big ones.<\/p>\n
1.Your roof\u2019s 25th birthday is approaching.
\u201cAn asphalt shingle roof should last between 20 and 30 years,\u201d says Claude McGavic, executive director of The National Association of Home Inspectors. \u201cIf you have a 40-year-old roof,there could be a problem \u2014 even if it looks good from the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n
How much time you\u2019ve got left: Five to 10 years, depending on your roof\u2019s condition. If you live in a development and your neighbors are all starting to replace their roofing, that could be a sign that you should do the same.<\/p>\n
2. The shingles are curling.
Shingles can curl in two ways: There\u2019s cupping, which happens when the edges of the shingles turn upward; and there\u2019s clawing, which is when the edges stay flat and the middle starts to come up. \u201cBoth are signs of weathering and indicate that problems \u2014 potentially leaks \u2014 are relatively close to fruition,\u201d says Mark Graham, vice president of the National Roofing Contractors Association.<\/p>\n
How much time you\u2019ve got left: \u201cDepending on the extent of the curling, it could be anywhere from a year to five years before you need a new roof,\u201d says Graham.<\/p>\n
3. Entire shingles are missing.
From a functional standpoint, there should be no problem with just replacing a few shingles here and there. \u201cWhat you do need to be prepared for is the fact that it\u2019s just about impossible to get a new shingle to match the color of an old one,\u201d says Graham. \u201cGranule colors have changed pretty significantly over the years. Plus, the colors change slightly with weathering.\u201d<\/p>\n
How much time you\u2019ve got left: You can keep patching until a bigger issue presents itself, but if a roof starts to look like a checkerboard, people often opt to replace the whole thing.<\/p>\n
4. The shingles are cracked.
Cracked shingles are typically a result of wind damage. If just a few shingles are cracked, you can certainly replace them. \u201cIf the cracking isn\u2019t isolated to one particular area and it\u2019s random throughout the roof, that\u2019s a telltale sign that you should start thinking about a new roof,\u201d says Graham.<\/p>\n
How much time you\u2019ve got left: You may need to replace the whole thing within three to five years.<\/p>\n
5. You\u2019re finding granules in the gutter.
If you just got a new asphalt shingle roof and you see a bunch of granules in the gutters, there\u2019s nothing to worry about: Those are just loose, extra ones. But if it\u2019s been 10 or 15 years, that\u2019s a sign of a bigger problem. \u201cGranules help keep the sun off the asphalt,\u201d says McGavic. \u201cOnce the granules fall off and the shingles start to bake, the quality will deteriorate in a hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n
How much time you\u2019ve got left: If you don\u2019t have a new roof and you just started to notice the granules in the gutter, the shingles are probably halfway through their lifespan, McGavic estimates.<\/p>\n
6. The shingles are covered with moss or algae.
Okay, this is actually no reason to panic. \u201cIt\u2019s just a cosmetic issue,\u201d says McGavic. People may choose to replace the roof just because they don\u2019t like the aesthetic (and a lot of new shingles are algae-resistant). Whatever you do, don\u2019t take matters into your own hands by power washing or scraping away at the green stuff. \u201cThat\u2019s a good way to chip off all the granules, which again, essentially renders your shingles useless.\u201d<\/p>\n
How much time you\u2019ve got left: As long as you can stand the look. Consider a wash that\u2019s one part bleach and one part water to remove algae or moss. Or look into zinc strips that can be installed at roof peaks and will eventually eliminate the problem. If you do decide to replace your roof, consider tiles that are algae-resistant.<\/p>\n
7. You can see sunlight from your attic.
You don\u2019t need us to tell you that this isn\u2019t a good sign \u2026 because it\u2019s not! If light can get in, so can rain, cold air, and snow. Check for light and also look for water stains. \u201cIf you find any, watch them over a few rainfalls and if they change shape or size, that means you\u2019ve got an active leak,\u201d says McGavic.<\/p>\n
How much time you\u2019ve got left: It depends on the extent of the damage, so call a pro. Small leaks can be patched, but larger ones, structural damage, and the age factor might make it wise (and cost efficient) to replace your roof sooner rather than later<\/p>\n
8. The entire roof is sagging.
This is when you should panic. \u201cA sagging roof is typically an indication of a structural issue,\u201d explains Graham. There could be a problem with the decking in the attic or, worse, with the supports in the foundation. \u201cYou\u2019re not necessarily in imminent danger, but this is the kind of thing that\u2019s a lot easier to take care of when it\u2019s small and localized, than when it has progressed.\u201d<\/p>\n
How much time you\u2019ve got left: Not much, if you do nothing. If you see a depression or a droop, call in an expert as soon as you can.<\/p>\n
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Know when it\u2019s time to run for cover \u2014 and by that, we mean call in RoofKing.A solid roof above your head is pretty crucial if you\u2019ve become accustomed to having a warm, cozy, and leak-free home. Here\u2019s how to notice and deal with potential issues before they become big ones. 1.Your roof\u2019s 25th birthday […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n