As a Florida homeowner, keeping up with your property and being sure it remains up to code at all times is amongst your more important responsibilities. Akin to most investments in life, all homes necessitate maintenance as years go by to provide maximum comfort and security. The longer you have lived in your home, the more likely you have mulled over investing in a new roof installation. Before moving forward with the decision to replace your roof entirely, there are a few signs to look for to figure out whether or not the time is right for you and your home, roof ventilation coomera
Right off the bat, on your journey to figure out roofing, you’ve more than likely crossed the ”20” year rule for the longevity of most roofing systems. That figure is utilized as a benchmark. The majority of residential roofs need a replacement during that time frame. However, there are many variables to consider, and not any roof is the same.
All roofs take a substantial amount of external wear and tear throughout each passing year. Direct sunlight, strong winds, flying trees, wildlife, hurricanes, rain, or dangerous weather conditions – all of these have a direct effect on a roof’s lifetime. How quickly your roof needs to be replaced depends on many factors:
What kind of weather is experienced.
Correct maintenance and care.
How old the materials are.
Quality of the materials.
Building and design.
Upkeep with minor repairs.
If wildlife was kept away.
External debris accumulation.
Consider Your Roof’s Age
Typically an asphalt shingle roof has a lifespan of about 10-20 years, with metal and tile roofs tending to have a much longer lifespan. If your roof is approaching its average replacement age, you should probably start thinking about a roof replacement. If previous roof repairs were placed over the top of your existing roof – a technique referred to as overlaying – you should definitely think about a roof replacement. Overlaying is a patch job that can mask bigger roofing issues underneath the shingle surface.
Begin By Inspecting Your Roof From the Inside Out
The first and simplest way to gauge your roof’s condition is to grab a flashlight and head up to your attic. Ensure to grab a flashlight with a bright beam, so you don’t miss any damage and always be mindful as you perform these types of inspections.
Upon arriving in your attic, see if you can identify one or more of these 4 signs that you need to replace the roof:
1) Daylight Through The Roof Boards
Before you turn your flashlight on, try and identify any beams of sunlight coming through cracks or punctures in your roof. If you do spot any light coming through your roof, fix it, or replace your roof immediately. If light is getting through your roof, then water is getting through your roof.
2) Dark Streaks & Stains
This one is also rather easy to identify. If you see dark stains or dark streaks on the underside of your roof or running down the walls from the base of your roof, then your roof is probably leaking, and moisture is deteriorating both your roof, as well as your home’s interior structure.
3) Sagging Areas
Much like how a soggy cardboard is weak, water can also make the structure of your roof begin to sag. If you identify sagging sections of your roof, take your hand or a stick to prod at the sagging spot lightly. If the spot is wet or bends easily with a touch of your stick, you know you have moisture damage.
4) Leaks
Besides just searching for dark streaks and saggy areas, make sure to look for any clear signs of water leaking or rotting your roof on the inside. If you locate any clear signs of water damage, it’s advisable to contact someone to inspect your roof immediately.
Missing, Loose, Or Cracked Shingles
Out of sight, out of mind, the tried and true cliche makes sense when it comes to the roof. Usually not taking a good look unless there is a stain or dark spot viewable from the street or yard.
Weathered or dilapidated asphalt shingles are quite simple to spot if you search for them. Missing shingles may be replaced one by one, but it’s normally an indicator of a bigger problem. Large areas of cracked or loose shingles (or those that are clearly falling apart) indicate that your roof needs a replacement.
Shingles can curl in two ways – cupping when the edges curl upward, or the second way shingles curl called clawing when edges remain flat, and the middle starts popping up. Both of these situations could mean that:
Moisture has built up underneath the shingles because of poor ventilation in the attic.
Shingles were improperly installed.
Old age and wear from direct sunlight and weathering
Bald spots on your shingles mean that the granules have started to fall off, exposing the asphalt underneath. Tip: check your gutter system for shingles granules. If rain carries them into your gutters, it’s likely your roof needs replacement.
Moss, Dark Spots, And Algae Growth
Moss can start to grow on a roof that doesn’t receive a substantial amount of sunlight, particularly in colder climates. Moss retains water against the surface, which can result in damage.
Is there moss or other types of nature growing on top or out of your roof? Don’t panic. Nature tends to grow over any structure in its path if it is not properly cared for and maintained.
When looking over your roof and the fungus you have spotted, make sure to do so by examining both the inside and outside of your roof. While most algae growths are likely to be seen from the exterior of your roof, if there is a more serious problem at-hand, nature may also be thriving on its own inside the house without your knowledge.
Oftentimes, treating the moss from a roof is a way to rapidly fix the problem without further investments or repairs. However, if you notice excessive growths on your roof or inside the property, the recommendation is to call a professional to determine the root cause and reason for the growths.
In the event the roof is just totally overgrown, then the sensible course of action would be to get a new roof. This only happens to roofs that are unattended for long periods of time.
The silver lining here is that moss growth and buildup aren’t normally an indicator that you need to repair or replace your roof. Rather, moss is more of just an eyesore to your roof and one that is rather common in hot places like Southern Florida.
In the event your roof is indeed needing a new roof installation, there then becomes a number of decisions in the near future. Such as which roofing material to use. Which roofing company to work with? Whether there’s a valid insurance damage claim. For many people having the cash on hand to get a new roof may not be possible; there is financing available for homeowners offered by reputable companies. One of the best companies in Florida for roofing is the West Palm Beach Roofing Experts, be sure to check them out. Make sure to do due diligence prior to choosing a roofing company.
