The roof is the most essential component of a house. Roofs are designed to be extremely sturdy, strong, and durable. They protect the house from all sorts of weather. Unless the roof is severely damaged or there are some water leakage issues, most homeowners do not pay much attention to roof maintenance.
Frequent inspection can actually help you save money in the long run. If there is proper maintenance, then your roof can last for years. Someone should be annually checking (and replacing) the roof shingles. At some point in time, you will have to get new shingles for your roof. But how will you know that your roofing requires new shingles? There are certain things that can help you determine whether you need new shingles or not…
#1 The Age Of The Shingles:
After a certain age (about 20 to 25 years) the quality, as well as the efficiency, of shingles starts to deteriorate. So even if you are getting your shingles inspected regularly and keeping them well-maintained, you will probably notice that your shingles are not able to provide protection to the house like they used to. Sometimes a roof has multiple layers, so if you do not want to change the entire set of shingles, you can replace the damaged and worn-out shingles with new ones.
#2 Presence Of Moss And Mildew On The Shingles:
Moss and mildew can easily grow on shingles which are severely damaged due to the constant absorption of moisture in the air. When water gets trapped within the shingles, it destroys the quality of the shingles and promotes the growth of moss and mildew. If the moss and mildew are not removed regularly, they will severely damage the underlying area of the roof and water will penetrate the house’s ceiling and walls. When you notice uncontrolled growth of moss and mildew on your roof shingles, it is time to get the shingles replaced.
#3 Cracked/Broken/Damaged Shingles:
Shingles are constantly exposed to harsh weather. Due to excessive temperatures, shingles develop cracks and/or the edges of shingles get broken. Sometimes you might notice that the shingles have bulged out. All of these are warning signs that the shingles are damaged beyond repair and you need to get them replaced immediately. Cracked and broken shingles are of no use as they will not be able to provide protection to the house.
#4 Missing Shingles:
Due to strong winds and storms, shingles might get blown off the roof. If, during an inspection, you notice that there are multiple shingles missing from the roof surface, then you should take it as a warning sign that something is seriously wrong. When several shingles go missing, the underlying area of the roof gets exposed to excessive heat and cold. This will damage the structural integrity of the roof and even damage the ceiling and walls of the house, too. So if the house’s roof has numerous missing shingles, you must get them replaced with new ones immediately.
#5 Noticing Granules In The Gutter:
The granules of shingles are the small elements that reflect heat back to the sun rather than absorb it. If the granules of the shingles fall off, this will reduce the functional efficiency of the shingles, and then the roof can easily get damaged with the slightest change in weather conditions.
#6 Can You Notice Daylight From The Attic Region?
When shingles become damaged beyond repair, they develop cracks. Through these cracks, water can easily enter inside the house. Moreover, the cracks reduce the functional efficiency of the insulation. You can notice these cracks when you inspect the attic region and observe daylight penetrating inside. This light is a sign that the shingles are no longer intact, and you need to get them replaced immediately.
Summary:
Getting your shingles inspected and replaced is a daunting task. You cannot do it all alone, so it is recommended that you hire professional roofers to help you with the shingle inspection and replacement process. If and when you’ve got damaged shingles, expect problems to arise. It’s best to replace broken shingles quickly to avoid costly repairs or the need for total roof replacement.