How to Know When It’s Time to Replace Your Roof

Other than the foundation, the roof is one of the most important parts of a building. A healthy roof on your residential or commercial building is an essential part of making sure that your home or business isn’t damaged by water, weather, or anything else that should stay on the outside. However, it can be easy to take your roof for granted. It can be hard to know when it’s time to replace your roof, so here are some tips!

Leaks and Water Damage

An obvious hint that you might need a new roof is leaking that makes its way into the interior of your house and causes water damage, mold, and other problems. While a single leak might not mean that you need a new roof, you’ll at least need a repair. If you notice several significant leaks in multiple places, you might need to have 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.

Uneven or Brittle Shingles

Just like anything in your home, shingles aren’t designed to last forever. Most shingles are meant to last for 20-25 years before they 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 useful life. You can also check your gutters and drains for shingle granules. Shingles at the end of their life will start shedding a lot of granules.

Undamaged shingles should lie flat against the roof. Damaged shingles will appear to be uneven, curled at the edges, or open spaces where shingles have come off. Shingles can also be damaged in storms and severe weather. If you notice shingles that are cracked, uneven or notice that shingles have come off, 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.

While it’s 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 unappealing 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.

Wood Rot and Structural Damage

Shingles aren’t the only part of your roof that can be damaged by weather and the environment. If the wood beams supporting your roof are exposed to too much moisture, they will start to soften and rot until they are unable to properly support your roof. If you notice dips or sagging in your roof, you should check the framing structure to pinpoint the damage. The damaged wood will need to be replaced to avoid your roof collapsing altogether.

Flashings and Damaged Seals

Roof flashing refers to the material using to seal various intentional holes in your roof such as chimnies and vents, and well as areas that may be more likely to leak such as side walls and different levels of your roof. The integrity of these areas is essential when it comes to making sure that there are no leaks in your roof. Flashings are typically made of metal and sealed at the edges to make sure that moisture doesn’t get in.

Some of the common problems with flashings are rust and seals that have deteriorated. These are both natural processes of these materials being exposed to weather such as rain, snow, and intense heat. Since this deterioration is natural, it’s important to check on these points frequently to make sure they don’t need to be repaired and replaced.

Some specific kinds of flashing as especially important to check, because they can cause more advanced and complex structural damage. Kick out flashing is used when a roof edge meets a side wall and directs water and debris away from that joint. If water gets trapped in these places it can cause the siding and wood to rot. If left too long, the problem can get worse and cause the framing of the wall underneath the joint to rot and lose its structural integrity.

Similarly, step flashing is used when a wall intersects with the roof. This prevents water from seeping in along the joint. If damaged or done improperly, this can allow the roof framing and structure underneath to rot.

A New Roof Should Have the Best Materials

As technology advances in every area of our modern lives, roofing options are also getting better and better. At Pinnacle Roofing, we believe that GAF offers the best roofing systems and warranties available. We recommend this system because it’s long-lasting, affordable, and easy to service.

Commercial Roofing Repairs and Replacement

Commercial roofing protects your company’s assets, so it’s important to make sure it’s cared for correctly. It’s important to know whether your roof is a built-up system, a modified bitumen system, or a single ply roofing because each will need 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.

Memphis Roof Replacement Experts

While it’s easy to take your roof for granted, it’s important to make sure every component of your roof is doing it’s job. Once those components start to deteriorate, it’s essential to replace them to avoid more serious problems in the rest of your home or business. The team at Pinnacle Roofing can help you find the best solution to any problem you have. You can be sure that any repair or replacement we provide will give you years of use at an affordable price.