Most people don’t think enough about their roof until it springs a leak. Don’t wait until this happens before paying attention to your roof. Remove debris from rooftops, drains, gutters and downspouts. At the same time, check for signs of damage.
Here are the four signs you need a new roof:
1. Your Roof’s Twenty-Fifth Birthday Is Approaching
An asphalt shingle roof should last between 20 and 30 years. If your roof is 40 years old, there could be a problem — even if it looks good from the ground. If your neighbors are all starting to replace their roof, that could be a sign that you should do the same.
2. The Shingles Are Curling
Shingles can curl in two ways. There’s cupping, which happens when their edges turn upward. Then, there’s clawing, which is when the edges stay flat, and the middle starts to rise. Both are signs of weathering and approaching problems, such as leaks. Depending on the extent of the curling, you have anywhere from one to five years before you need new roofing.
3. Entire Shingles Are Missing
It’s generally okay to replace only a few shingles here and there. The problem is that it’s quite impossible to get new shingles to match the color of old ones. The colors of shingles fade with weathering. You can keep patching until a bigger issue presents itself. But if your roof starts looking like a checkerboard, better replace the whole thing.
4. The Shingles Are Cracking
Cracked shingles result from wind damage. If only a few shingles have cracked, replace them. If the cracking spreads throughout the roof, then you’ll need a new roof within three to five years.
Summit Point Roofing Co. can assess the true state of your roofing, from the shingles right down to the gutters. We’ll tell you if you need replacement or if repairs will do. We serve homeowners in Grand Rapids, Detroit and nearby areas.
