5 Signs Your Church Roof Needs Replacing

There are a lot of things that can go wrong with a roof. Some may be easily repaired, but others may require the entire roof be replaced. It’s important to know the difference — the longer you allow serious problems to go uncorrected, the more significant the costs will be once you finally do get around to addressing them. This is true of residential homes, and it’s especially true for your church building.

Whether it be your sanctuary, gym, or fellowship hall, keeping the roof maintained and secure should be a priority. If you’ve noticed some issues with your church roof, and aren’t quite sure how to proceed, here are 5 tell-tale signs that it’s time to call a professional roofing company like Pinnacle Roofing & Restoration.

1. Curling Shingles

Curling (or clawing shingles) are a sign of both age, and also excessive heat. Goodness knows Memphis has its share of the latter! Curled shingles are very susceptible to wind uplift and ice damage, another issue Memphians frequently encounter during the colder months. These shingles can easily become rigid, leading to breakage.

2. Missing Granules and Bare Spots

Poorly placed downspouts or poorly designed drainage can cause a waterfall effect that washes away shingle granules over time. An aging roof system or physical damage can also cause bare spots. When the protective granules of a shingle are lost, the shingle begins to harden from heat and sun exposure, something Memphis roofs are already highly prone to. Significant granule loss on a roof will accelerate its aging and decay, and can also become a point of entry for water.

3. Broken or Missing Shingles

Broken and missing singles greatly weaken your roof’s ability to shed water and can be an entry point for water. The two most common causes of damaged shingles are excessive wind and physical damage.

4. Buckling Shingles

Buckling shingles are waved distortions that are easily visible. These usually run vertically up a roof slope. Buckled shingles are highly susceptible to wind and ice damage, and can be torn off easily in either instance. Your overall roof age and wet/poorly installed underlayment are very common causes of buckling shingles.

5. Damaged Flashings

Flashings that are located around skylights, valleys, eaves, wall details, and chimneys are all subject to separation. These can also lift, and the caulking can sometimes dry out. The flashing details can lift and separate due to general expansion and contraction. This kind of expansion and contraction will cause fasteners to loosen and the bottom flange to lift, allowing water to enter.

Your next step

Ultimately, determining whether your church roof can be repaired or if an entire roof replacement is necessary will likely require an assessment from an experienced roofing contractor, such as Pinnacle Roofing & Restoration. Our experienced team will be able to evaluate the current state of your roofing system through a variety of methods, then help you make the best decision for the future of your church. If you’re looking for a consultation for your church roof, get in touch with us today, and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free roofing estimate.