Roof Replacement--How to Know It's Time to Let Your Old Roof Go

If Your Roof Is Looking Shabby, It Isn’t Chic.

A roof of our own over our heads: it’s part of the American dream. Our home’s literal roof, however, has an expiration date that’s important to heed if we want to keep our insurance claims adjuster a stranger.

Different types of roofing will have different life expectancies. All roofs have telltale warning signs when it’s time to be replaced. The most common roofing material used in this country by far is an asphalt roof. Your home should be able to get between 20–30 years of use from a properly installed asphalt roof. Here’s the biggest red flags to look out for when it comes to the maintenance of your home’s crown of glory:

Missing shingles—this isn’t necessarily a cause to replace an entire roof, but you should know that matching the replaced shingles to the original roofing is probably impossible. Even if you have the exact shingles from the original roofing job, sun and elements will have taken its toll on the shingles surrounding the replaced ones, causing them to stand out. It all comes down to a matter of personal preference and esthetics. If you thinks it’s ugly and it's in your home repair budget, then replace your entire roof. Also, if your roof is a patchy looking eyesore, your neighbors might become a little bitter about staring at it too.

Shingles that are curling—curling shingles turn upward, and clawing shingles have flat edges but the middle domes up. This is a sign of weathering and indicates problems like potential leaks which are close, as in one to five years away from occurring.

Cracked shingles—really, this is similar to the issue of missing shingles. You can replace a few if the esthetics of them being mismatched doesn't bother you, but if the cracked shingles are numerous, then the roof should be replaced. When cracked shingles start appearing, your roof’s life expectancy is about 3–5 years.

Granules in the gutter—those little bits of granule help keep the sun off the asphalt and your home from baking. Once it begins to shed away, and you find the grains of it in your home’s gutters, you’re probably halfway through the lifespan of your roof; however, if your roof is brand new, then finding granules is normal and will taper off as the excess falls off.

The shingles are covered with moss or algae—this is just a cosmetic issue, but don’t take matters into your own hands by power washing or scraping the shingles. You’ll chip off the granules and make your roof useless. All is not lost if you want to try to remedy it yourself. Take one part bleach and one part water and spray the affected area.

You can see patches of sunlight from the attic—well, obviously not good news. Small leaks might be able to be patched, but anything larger will need a roofing contractor's attention.

The entire roof is sagging—Panic! You have major structural issues. Your roof might not come down on top of you immediately, but it’s not safe and needs to be addressed ASAP.

Home Improvement Columbus

Now that you’ve had the run down on the what’s what of roofing issues, we can talk roof replacement. Roofing speak deals with sizing known as a square. Not a square foot, but a plain ol’ square. One square is 100 square feet. So, keep that in mind. Beside the common asphalt roof, which lasts 20–30 years, there a several other types of roofing material on the market:

Wood shake has a lifespan of around 30 years and needs a bit of upkeep and maintenance. (Average cost: $350 to $450 per square.)

Slate shingles are made of thin sheets of rock. Hard slate can last a whopping 75–200 years, whereas soft slate will last anywhere from 50–125 years. (Average cost: $1,000 to $2,000 per square to install.)

Tile roofs can be pricey, you can expect them to last around 50 years. (Average cost: $800 to $1,000 per square to install.)

The newest kid on the roofing material block is membrane roofs. It’s used on a flat roof and is often made from some rubber-type of material. 40 years seems to be a reasonable life expectancy from a membrane roof. (Average cost: $4,000 to $8,000 installed.)

Metal roofs are the workhorses of the roofing material world. They may have a higher initial investment, but they can last 60 years with little maintenance. The metals used for the roofing include zinc, steel, copper, aluminum, and tin. (Average cost: $4,300 to $9,500 per square.)

Do you need a new roof, or does it just need some TLC? Whatever you decide to do, don’t put if off. Your home’s structure depends on the sturdiness and soundness of its roof. So, don’t delay! Connect with a qualified roofing specialist today! Sign up with service.com, enjoy our summer promo, and get started on your replacing your old roof today!

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