Time to Raise the Roof? 9 Warning Signs Your Home Needs a New Roof

According to the American Community Survey, 40 million Americans move into a new home every year. The millions of Americans becoming homeowners each year also have to deal with all kinds of home maintenance issues. 

If you’re one of the millions who’s become a homeowner in the last few years, you might be dealing with roof issues you never had to as a renter. 

This guide will discuss some of the warning signs indicating it may be time to get a new roof installed.

Continue reading if you want to learn what they are. 

1. Apparent Leaks

If you’re wondering when to get a new roof, finding leaks is a clear sign you need to call a roofing company. Leaks can occur from normal wear and tear or some sort of severe weather damage. Water will start to seep through the roof and leak into your attic or home as your roof deteriorates. 

Small leaks can be patched up, but they tend to go unnoticed until the problem gets bigger. If you notice any leaks throughout your home bringing a lot of water in, you’ll need to contact your local roofing company right away. 

2. Beams of Light Inside Your Attic

You can figure out if you need any roof repair by checking inside your attic. Beams of light coming in through the darkness indicate that there are cracks somewhere in your roof. Use a flashlight to look for any water stains to determine if you have a leak in your attic. 

If the sunlight coming into your attic is easy to notice or the stains are large, you’ll need a total replacement. 

3. Water Damage Inside Your Home

Any water damage to your home, whether caused by a flood or a leak from your upstairs bathroom, can pose health risks to you and your family. Mold growth caused by water damage in your home can lead to a variety of serious health issues. 

This is why it’s crucial to look for these signs and take action as soon as you find them. Structural damage can be repaired, but health issues caused by water damage can be deadly. 

Water damage in your home will appear as spots or streaks on your ceiling. You’ll know the water came in through the roof when these stains show up on your ceiling or near the top of your home’s walls. Contacting a roofing contractor will help you decide the next steps to help keep your family and home safe. 

4. An Old Roof

Different types of roofs have different lifespans. The typical roof, however, will last around 20 years. 

If your roof was installed over 20 years ago, you’ll need to consider a roof replacement. Review your home’s records to find out when the roof was replaced last. If you haven’t lived in your home for a long time, you can always reach out to your city records department to see if they have any paperwork on roof repairs done on the house. 

If you notice neighbors replacing their roofs, this could mean your roof is also nearing the end of its lifespan. Homes in the same neighborhood are typically built around the same time and experience similar weather damage. 

5. Damaged Shingles

Damaged shingles might mean you need new roofing. Cracked, curled, or missing shingles open up the rest of your roof and ceiling to water damage. 

A few damaged shingles can be swapped out for new ones, but extensive damage will require a new roof. You can check your gutters for any shingle debris too. This indicates a deteriorating roof reaching the end of its life.

6. Cracked Flashing 

Flashing is a material used to seal the vents, chimneys, and skylights on your roof. It keeps rainwater from leaking through.

You’ll need to check these areas on your roof to see if they have any cracks. Cracks can cause a leak inside your attic or could be what’s already causing the leaks.

Replacing your roof and upgrading the flashing system will keep your home safe from water damage.  

7. Misshapen Roofline

A sagging or drooping roof is another sign you need a roof replacement. Your roofline should appear straight when you look at it, any curvature you see indicates a bigger issue. 

A sagging roofline paired with damaged shingles and leaking needs immediate attention. This combination could lead your roof to completely cave in. If this is an issue you find in your home, you’ll need to contact a roofing expert immediately. 

8. A Mossy Roof

Moss can look beautiful in your backyard garden, but finding it on your roof should be a cause for concern. Fungi and mold will often grow around the moss. This is usually a sign of trapped moisture on your roof. 

You can remove some of the moss from your roof and replace the damaged shingles, but you’re better off replacing the roof when the damage is more extensive. 

9. Damage From a Storm

Storms cause the most amount of damage to roofs. Heavy winds will rip shingles off, while rain will seep through and cause water damage.

Embry’s Roofing offers commercial roofing for your business or residential roofing for your home if it’s been damaged by a storm. 

Look for These Signs That Your Home Needs a New Roof

Many different issues could indicate you need a new roof. Leaks coming through your ceiling or shingle damage are the biggest signs you need to contact a roofing company. 

You can contact the experts at Embry’s Roofing for any of the roofing services you need. Contact us today to schedule your free roof inspection.