Your roof is one of your home’s best defenses against the outdoors. It prevents rain, snow, and sun from getting into your home. It greatly helps keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Because of this, it is important to make sure that it is in good condition. Something that may seem like a small issue with the roof can cause major problems down the road. Let’s evaluate some of the biggest concerns with a roof.

Age

The age of your roof is a major factor in when the roof may start causing problems. Most roofs last around 20-25 years, and will start to rapidly deteriorate after this period of time. If you know your roof is around this age, it may be a good idea to have someone come out to inspect it and give you an estimate on how much time it has left. While 20-25 years is a good estimate, obviously environmental factors, damage, and maintenance all impact this range. If you’re unsure how old your roof is, check out this blog for tips on how to find that out.

Shingle Damage

Shingles are the most visible portion of the roof, so any signs of damage there could mean damage underneath. Missing, ripped, or curling shingles are all signs of an ongoing issue. A ripped shingle could mean your roof underneath is exposed to the elements, leading to leaks and other issues down the road.

Mold

Oftentimes in Spring when the snow has melted, there may be patches on the roof that are darker and look wet even when they should be dry. This is most likely mold/algae growth on the roof. If not addressed quickly, this can have a severe impact on your roof’s health. Sometimes it is relatively benign and can be resolved quickly, other times it is a major indicator that there is already damage to the roof and it may need to be repaired or replaced, depending on the severity of the issue.

Interior Water Damage

If you have water stains on your ceilings, there is likely already a leak in the roof. Doing a thorough inspection of the inside of the roof (usually via the attic) will give you a better idea of what the issue is. Any holes, even as small as a missing nail, can allow water to get into your roof and damage your home. Sometimes the solution is as simple as filling in a hole and repairing the shingles outside, but if water has been leaking into the roof unnoticed for a long period of time, the roof may need to be replaced.

Increased Climate Control Bill

If you’re noticing that your heating/cooling bill is higher than usual, this is a sign that somewhere in your home your temperature controlled air is leaking out. If you’ve ensured all the windows and doors are sealed well, and your furnace and/or air conditioning unit are working well, then the next place to check is the roof.

Roof damage can be devastating. Hopefully this information has helped to illustrate how important your roof health is. Please contact us if you have any questions. We’re available 24/7 to help!

-New Look Roof Team

For any questions or comments, please feel free to email us at jwest@newlookroofs.com, we hope you have a great day and thanks for reading! 

- Julian