Your roof is arguably the most important physical aspect of your house. Really, if you don’t have a roof over your head, you’re not in a house. Unfortunately, most homeowners take their roofs for granted and forget that they do not last forever. To prevent raindrops from falling on your head indoors, we at Trilogy Exteriors have put together a short list of warning signs that you may need to replace your roof. Check out the list below, and contact our expert roofers for professional roofing services in Montgomery County, PA, today!
Your Roof is Experiencing its Quarter-Life Crisis
It is a general rule-of-thumb that, if your roof is 20 to 30 years old, it might need replacing. If you are unsure about the age of your roof, look around your neighborhood. If your neighbors are replacing their roofs, it may be time to start scrutinizing your roof for signs of age and deterioration. In addition to the insulation and protective benefits of a new roof, your house will also be more visually-appealing and increase in value.
You Can See the Light
If you are in your attic, and you can see rays of light breaking through, it’s a pretty cut-and-dried indication that your roof has seen better days. Another way to tell, if you can’t see any light, is to look for water stains that change in size after rain or the snow melts. This could be a sign that there are cracks in your shingles and roof boards, and you certainly have a leaking roof in need of a replacement.
Casualties of Cupping, Clawing, & Cracking
If your shingles appear to be curling up at the ends (cupping) or rising in the middle (clawing), your roof is showing signs of age and UV damage. These irregularities indicate structural weaknesses and can leave your roof at risk of leaking. If you notice a few of your shingles cracking, the surrounding shingles have a higher chance cracking, too. If it’s just a few, you may be safe making spot repairs, but it’s better not to risk it, especially if patches of cracked shingles form.
Granules Gathering in Gutters
Granules on shingles reflect sunlight off the asphalt, preventing them from baking in the sun. If you see those reflective granules in the gutter, your shingles are most likely reaching their life expectancy and will begin to rapidly deteriorate as they absorb more and more of the sun’s rays. Finding a few granules early on from a new roof is normal; however, if the roof is 15-20 years old, and you start seeing them in the gutter, you should consider a roof replacement within the next 5-7 years. Keep tabs on the granules, and if you notice more of them, you may need a new roof earlier than projected.
Your roof protects you from wind, rain, UV rays, and extreme temperatures, and it needs the attention it deserves. If you notice that your roof is caving, shingles are damaged or missing, gaps are forming in the roof boards, and leaks are showing, we encourage you to contact Trilogy Exteriors, the experienced residential roofing contractors in Bucks County, PA, and Montgomery County, PA, today!
