Do I Need to Replace My Roof?

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Roof's Age?

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On a day-to-day basis, most of us don’t think about roof replacement. Unless your roof is crumbling or falling down around your head while you are at the dinner table, the thought doesn’t even cross our minds until it is too late.  The key to great home ownership is becoming proactive and spotting roof problems BEFORE they develop, such as leaking, crumbling etc. You don’t need to be a roofing expert or contractor to spot issues in your roof. What factors should you be checking for to find out if you need to reroof or a roof replacement? Find out…..before it’s time to take cover.

How Old Is Your Roof?

Roofing Experts agree that the best age for roof replacement is between 20 and 25 years. Even if things look good from the outside, there could still be issues with the roof that are not obvious to the untrained eye. It also makes a difference if the previous roof was removed or if you have only one layer of shingles. Depending on the condition of your roof, give yourself between 5-10 years. If your house is exposed to harsh climates or extreme weather, it’s going to accelerate the ‘age’ of your roof. For all you Colorado residents, your home is going to be exposed to all sorts of weather such as hail storms, tornadoes, and heavy snow. As a result, your roof is going to get a lot of wear and tear.

Shingles Are Curling, Buckling or Missing

Look closer on your roof and you will notice that good roofs have consistent rows of flat shingles. If you notice that shingles are curling, buckling or falling off, it’s time to replace your roof. “Both are signs of weathering and indicate that problems — potentially leaks — are relatively close to fruition,” says Mark Graham, vice president of the National Roofing Contractors Association. Shingles curl in two ways: cupping and clawing. Cupping is when the edges of the shingles turn upward. Clawing is when the edges stay flat and the middle starts to come up. Depending on how much the shingles have curled, you might need a new roof in the next 1-5 years. If shingles have fallen off, that is a warning that you need a roof replacement.

Shingles are Cracked

You may have to get on a ladder to check the roof a little more closely. Check out this handy roof-checking guide brought you by the NRCA for safety and roofing tips. If you noticed that shingles are cracked, that is another definite sign, which is caused by wind damage (looking at YOU Colorado and your weather). If there are just a few cracked shingles, those can be easily replace without replacing the entire roof.

Granules in the Gutter

It is common with asphalt roofs to have several granules in the gutters. Granules protect the asphalt from the scorching sun. Over time, the granules start to fall off the roof. This will cause the shingles will bake and the roof will deteriorate. If you noticed a lot of granules accumulating in the gutter after 10 or 15 years, this is a sign that your roof needs to be replaced.

Sunlight though the Attic

You can go in your attic to check this one. It is NOT a good sign when you start to see sunlight peeking through the roof. If there are holes in your roof, that means that ANYTHING can get in your roof – rain, show, hail or any other things that you don’t want in your home. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may have to call a roofing expert. If it a small crack, that can be patched up. Any large holes or structural damage is going to require professional roofing help.

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Alliance Roofing Inc. is an established industry leader in Residential & Commercial Roofing in Colorado since 1991.

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