4 Signs That Indicate Your House Needs A Roof Replacement Now

As a homeowner, you must take certain steps to keep your house in good shape. Inspecting your roof regularly and repairing or replacing it if required are two must-dos for every homeowner. To ensure that you get a damaged roof replaced quickly, you must know the signs indicating the need for a roof replacement. The section below talks about four of the most crucial ones among them.

1. Your House Has a Very Old Roof 

Certain factors decide how long a roof will last. The most important one among them is the material it is made of. If your home has a metal roof, it’s unlikely that you would need to go for a total replacement. Unless your home is very old, most damages in your metal roof should be repairable.

Statistics show that metal roofs last for 40 to 80 years. Copper roofs tend to last more than 70 years, while those made of zinc often stay sturdy for over 100 years.

Roofs made of asphalt shingles, on the other hand, stay in perfect shape for 20 to 50 years depending on the quality of the shingles. Wood shingles and shakes last for 25 to 30 years. However, if you take good care and install high-quality wood shingles, you can expect the roof to last for 50 years.

If you live in an old house (more than 30 years old), you must increase the frequency of roof inspections. Ideally, you must opt for roof replacement without waiting for the roof to get damaged completely. Contact the top roofing companies Spokane to get quotes and opt for the service provider presenting the best offer.

If your home has an asphalt shingles roof, you can either go for complete replacement or overlay the old shingles. The second option might be suitable for people with a lower budget but will reduce the life span of the new shingles significantly. As a result, it will total roof replacement is always the most cost-effective option. For roofs made of other materials, complete replacement is the only option available.

2. There’s Visible Exterior Damage 

At times, roofs get damaged even when they are not very old. This makes regular visual roof inspection by the homeowner mandatory. For roofs with wooden or asphalt shingles, buckling or curling of shingles, missing shingles, and/or warped shingles are major red flags.

When inspecting roofs made of clay, rubber, slate, concrete, or metal tiles, you must look for areas that appear cracked or thin. Missing tiles and too many worn or dented tiles are other reasons why you should go for total roof replacement.

There are certain areas of the roof that you must inspect more carefully. These are areas that are more susceptible to damage. Examples include the roof valleys and slopes that get exposed to water and direct sunlight, respectively.

3. Saggy Spots on the Roof

Saggy spots on the roof indicate that its decking has weakened due to constant exposure to moisture. For your information, decking is the term used for the structure responsible for supporting and holding up a roof. Once the decking of your roof is damaged, you shouldn’t try any other remedy besides roof replacement.

The easiest way of identifying the saggy spots is by walking on the roof. You should call a roofing contractor right away if you feel any area is bouncy or spongy when walking. You should do so even if the saggy area is very small.

4. Damaged Chimney Flashing 

Homeowners in Spokane often use a roofing material called flashing to create a leak-proof seal around penetrations like the chimney. Flashing is typically made of aluminum or steel and last for around 30 years. However, as a result of being a metal structure, flashing is prone to cracks and rust.

Cracks or rust on the flashing can result in water leakage into the chimney and then into your home. The only way to prevent the problem is by replacing the damaged flashing.

Once you know that your roof might need repair work or a total replacement, you should quickly contact a trusted roofing contractor. A professional is the best person to tell you what should be done to your roof. He will be able to offer you solutions according to your budget.