Maybe you’re thinking about selling your home, or maybe you've recently acquired a place that seems like it could use some renovation. The roof is one part of the home that most people find easy to neglect, perhaps because it’s usually out of our sight. But problems with a roof can easily turn into bigger issues that compromise the overall structural integrity of any home.
So we consulted our friends at HCI, who specialize in roofing Quad Cities homes, for their top five signs of a roof that needs replacing.
- Age. If your roof is 20 or more years old, that’s almost a sure sign you should look into getting it replaced. While many newer roofs are built to last longer than their older counterparts, if your roof was built in the last century, there’s very little chance it is equipped with the latest, more durable technology.
- Curling shingles. These are a clear sign of a roof that needs replacing. Shingles curl over time in response to natural wear and tear from weathering. Curling shingles are usually followed by leaks, meaning that you really don’t want to delay fixing your roof if you start to see some bad curling.
- Granules in the gutters. Granules that break off of your roof’s shingles and end up in the gutters are signs of a deteriorating roof (unless you just got it installed—in which case, it’s perfectly fine to have some granules at first).
- Cracked shingles. Shingles usually crack from wind damage. The good news is that if only a few shingles are cracked, you probably won’t have to replace the entire roof—only the parts with visible damage. But if the cracking is extensive, a roof replacement might be in order.
- Light in the attic. This one should be worrying to anyone. If sunlight is shining through your roof into the attic, your roof is definitely not performing properly!
If your roof fails its self-inspection on any of the above grounds, it might be time to consider getting a new roof. With today’s updated roofing technology, a new roof will last for quite a while. If you’ve just moved in, it might be prudent to set yourself up now and never have to worry about roofing again!
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