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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!