When should you replace your roof? Many home owners have a hard time deciding whether they can get a few more years of life out of their roof, or if they should replace it sooner rather then later. The team at Miller’s Roofing and Siding has put together a list of 7 things to look out for to help decide if its time for a new roof.
1. Your Shingles Have Reached the End of Their Manufacturer’s Lifespan
Most shingle roofing material is projected to last between 15 and 25 years, based on moderate weather conditions. A good place to start is finding how long it has been since your roof has been replaced, but keep in mind that the harsh weather in Minnesota and Wisconsin can accelerate the aging of your roofing material. If you are unsure how old your roof is, we suggest doing a search with your county records to see the last time a building permit was issued or reaching out to our local roofing team to come out and take a look.
2. Moss is Growing on your Shingles
Moss growing on the North side of a tree is normal, but moss growing on your shingles is no good. If you have moss growing on your shingles, that means water and moisture are being trapped, and marks the end of the life of your roofing material. If enough water is trapped in your roof to grow moss on your shingles, your roof could start drooping and potentially lose its structural integrity due to extreme water damage.
3. Shingle Edges are Curled
If your shingles are no longer laying flat against your roof, its time to consider replacing your roof. With curled and cupped shingles, water is soon to come seeping in behind them. Back to the idea of weather accelerated aging mentioned in the first sign your roof needs to be replaced, the wind, snow, ice, and rain are constantly wearing against your roof shingles and causing them to loose their structural integrity.
4. Ice Dams are Forming
If you live in the northern climate of Minnesota and Wisconsin with our cold winters, we can almost guarantee you’ve seen or experienced ice dams on a roof. Ice dams are thick ridges of solid ice that have built up along the edge of a roof. These ice ridges are a problem because they add a lot of weight and pressure to your roof, causing serious damage to roofing systems like ripping off shingles and gutters. If you can remove the ice dams as they form, you should be able to prevent major problems, but it may be too late if you’ve already noticed a leak.
5. Water Drips from Your Ceiling
If water has already made it into the interior of your house and is visibly dripping, you are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. For enough water to make its way through the ceiling on your main floor, even more water had to make its way through your damaged roof and into the attic. Mold, mildew, and extensive damage could be waiting just above your ceiling, and will only get worse until your roof has been repaired or replaced.
6. Roof has Missing Shingles
If your roof is missing shingles, you are basically inviting water to come in and stay awhile. Once your roofing system is missing a few shingles, it won’t be long until you are missing a few more. Your roof needs all of its shingles in place to divert water around your house. It is worth your time to start getting estimates to replace/ repair your roof before the damage gets worse.
7. You Notice Your Neighbors Replacing Their Roofs
Houses in your neighborhood experience all the same storms and there’s a good chance your roof was also damaged by a recent hailstorm if your next door neighbor is having their roof replaced. Because all the roofs in your area experience the same weather conditions and are usually replaced at the same time, your neighbor’s roof could be a good gauge of the age of your roof as well.
Now that you know what to look for, it would be worth your time to reach out to a local roofing contractor for a free inspection and estimate if you notice any of the above 7 signs. Miller’s Roofing & Siding has roof contracting crews ready to help you throughout Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin!
