The Best Time to Replace Your Roof

When it comes to your home or commercial business, the roof is essential to prevent any damage to your property. However, just like anything else, your roof can suffer from damage caused by water, weather, and even age! But how do you know if you should start the process of finding a contractor? Pinnacle Roofing is here to help! Keep reading to find out more about how to know when it’s time to replace your roof!

Curled or cracked shingles

Like most things in life, shingles don’t last forever! In most cases, they’re designed to last around 20 to 25 years before they start to naturally deteriorate. You can check your records to be certain when your roof was last replaced or repaired to determine if your shingles are at the end of their typical use. There are a few other more obvious ways you can tell, too!

One way to tell if your roof is at the end of its life you notice shingles starting to shed granules. These can be found in your gutters or drains and weaken your roof when they’re shed. Other obvious signs of age are curled or cracked shingles. Undamaged shingles should lie flat against your roof. When damaged, they will start to look uneven, with the edges curling up. 

Shingles can also be damaged in storms and severe weather. If you notice shingles that are cracked, uneven, or missing altogether, you will need to repair that portion of your roof. If the majority of your shingles appear to be damaged, you’ll most likely need to replace the whole roof. 

Leaks or water damage

One of the most obvious signs that you should start considering replacing your roof is leaks that reach the interior of your home or business. While a single leak may not seem like a big deal, it can lead to more severe water damage, mold, and other issues. If you start noticing multiple leaks throughout the ceiling, you will likely need your roof replaced. 

To check for leaks in your roof, you should check your attic for any places where sunlight is coming through, or parts that look streaky. This will tell you where water is getting in and causing damage. A single spot may mean that only a patch of shingles needs replaced, but multiple spots in different parts of your roof might require a whole new roof.

Rotting or structural damage

There are many components to your roof that can suffer from weather and water damage. If the wood beams that support your roof are exposed to too much moisture, they will start to rot until they can no longer support the weight of the roof. Look out for dips or sagging, as these are signs the framing structure could be damaged. The damaged wood will need to be replaced to prevent your roof from collapsing. 

Missing kick-out flashing

Kick-out flashing is essential to keep rainwater away from the walls of your building. Without it, roof runoff is free to flow down the wall and possibly into the wall itself. This is particularly harmful when there is a door or window below and water can seep behind the trim. While this can be subtle, it will eventually cause rot that will destroy your sheathing and framing. Make a habit to check this every so often to be sure that your home or other building is structurally sound. 

Noticeable streaking

The black streaks you may notice on your roof are actually a type of algae that accumulates. Over time, shingles will develop a dark, hardened outer coating that causes the dark streaks you see. While it can be unattractive, this can be more than a cosmetic problem! 

Moss can be another dark growth on your roof that causes serious problems. Moss and algae hold the moisture close to your shingles, which can result in rotting and damage to the granules. If you notice excessing moss or dark streaks, you may consider replacing your roof completely. 

A note about replacing shingles

While it is possible to replace single shingles or patches of shingles, it’s nearly impossible to match the color of new shingles with the color of the old ones. This can give your roof an unsightly checkerboard appearance. Since the old shingles will need to be replaced at a different rate than the new patches, you’ll never get back to an even colored roof unless you replace all of your shingles at once. 

Commercial repairs and replacement

Commercial roofing protects your company’s assets, so it’s important to make sure it’s properly cared for. It’s important to know whether your roof is a built-up system, a modified bitumen system, or single-ply roofing because each will require different maintenance, have different lifespans, and experience different kinds of damage. No matter what roofing system you have, the experienced team at Pinnacle Roofing can help assess what kinds of maintenance and repairs are needed, and how much longer you can expect your current roof to last. Our goal is to provide you with the highest-quality materials that will give your roof the longest life possible!

Your Mid-South roofing experts

It can be easy to let roof maintenance fall to the wayside with all of the other things you deal with in life. However, a healthy roof is essential to the longevity of your home or business! Once you start to notice any signs of deterioration, you should address the issue as soon as possible. Our team here at Pinnacle Roofing can help you find the best roofing solution for your home or commercial property, so contact us today for your free roof evaluation. Let’s work together to protect your roof!