How to Determine the Age of Your Roof

Unfortunately, “out of sight, out of mind” applies far too often when it comes to keeping tabs on the health of our roofs. We encounter other parts of our home far more often in our everyday lives than our roofs, so we tend to see problems with them sooner than on the roof. 

One of the main things that you should know about your roof is its age. If you don’t know, take this as your sign to figure it out, and don’t worry, we’ll tell you some of the ways you can do just that. 

The big reason behind why you should know the age of your roof is so that you know when you’ll need to replace it. Asphalt shingle roofs can last between 15-40 years depending on what kind of shingle is on it, with three-tab shingles being on the low end, and architectural on the high end. To learn more, check out our blog on the different kinds of asphalt shingles. 

In this article, we’ll walk through three different signs that show your roof may be aging, and also tell you three ways to accurately determine the age of your roof! 

Let’s get started! 

What are the signs of an aging roof? 

Curling, Missing, or Damaged Shingles 

When you decide to check out your roof, you can pretty easily spot some issues from the ground. If you have an older asphalt shingle roof, you may see one of the following signs of trouble 

• Curling Shingles 

• Over time, the asphalt holding the shingle together will start to lose its grip, causing the upper layers to pull away, creating the curled edges and warped look. How long it will take for this to occur depends on where you’re located, the type of shingle, and how much sun and heat your roof is exposed to. In most cases, curling shingles will show you that your roof is reaching the end of its life, and should be addressed soon, as these curled shingles could expose your roof decking to the elements, causing further damage. 

• Missing or Damaged Shingles 

• After a storm blows through town, it is always a good idea to check your roof for missing or damaged shingles. Just as the curling shingles do, having some shingles missing, or a damaged patch, will leave your roof, and home, exposed to any more weather that comes through. If you do have a damaged patch, you may not need a full replacement, depending on the scope of the damage. The more shingles missing, the greater the chance that your roof is older, and may be nearing the end of its life anyway. 

Granule Loss  

A good idea while you’re checking your shingles, check your gutters as well. If your roof is getting up there in age, you may find lots of grit that has come off of the shingle’s topcoat. The granules provide color, UV protection, mold prevention, and are engineered to reflect heat, so when they start to run off, the shingles begin to lose some of their protective properties.  

Granule loss is going to happen eventually, and is expected, but the more granules that have come off, the more wear and tear your roof is exposed to. 

Rusted Nails or Flashing 

If you start seeing exposed nails on your roof, this may be a sign that your shingles are starting to come loose (or that your roof was improperly installed). As those nails face the elements, they will start to rust and degrade, making it easier for shingles to tear off in inclement weather. 

Your flashing, the sheets of metal that prevent water from getting through any penetrations or joints, may similarly start to wear down with time. If you see that important barrier start to crack, or rust, it is definitely worth getting replaced, or inspected for further damage. 

How can I figure out the age of my roof? 

Ask your neighbors 

A dead giveaway that you may need a roof replacement, is if you start seeing roofing signs around your neighborhood. 

Most neighborhoods are built in the same timeframe, so unless your home has already had its roof replaced, you will likely need to go through that process when your neighbors do too. If you can, ask your neighbors to learn more about when the neighborhood was built, and if there has been any roof work done in the area before. 

Ask the home’s previous owners 

If you still have a way to contact the previous owners of your house, they should be able to tell you about any repairs or replacements they had done during their time in the home. 

While all of these things should be mentioned, and documented, during the home-buying process, roofs are often only given a glance, not an up close inspection. 

Get an inspection 

If you aren’t able to ask someone next door, or the previous owners, get an inspection! Calling on a local roofing company to check things out won’t hurt, and in the case you do need repairs done, you’ll already have had an interaction with a company, and can get an idea of how they work.  

A quality, experienced roofing contractor should be able to help you determine how old your roof is, and help you figure out what next steps, if any, are needed. 

Want an inspection to find out the age of your roof? 

Hopefully, after you’ve read this article, you feel more confident in your ability to determine the age of your roof, why it’s important, and what the age of your roof means for you. 

If you’re feeling like you want the opinion of a professional roofing specialist on how old your roof is, and if there are any problems that need to be solved, get an inspection! 

Here at On Tops Roofing, we have been conducting roof repairs, replacements, and inspections in Raleigh, NC and the greater Triangle area for over 30 years, so if you need a roofing service, click the button below to get in touch with us! Whatever your roofing project requires, we are happy to help!