Light Can Be Seen Through Your Attic
Outside light creeping in through small holes in your attic is an indicator you may need a roof replacement. Water can get into your home through these small holes and cause extensive damage.
If you dont see light coming in through your roof, you may instead see soft spots, water staining, and moisture which are alternative indicators of the same problem. Regardless, holes in your roof will require a replacement to protect your home.
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Watch For Signs Of Exterior Damage
Exterior damage can either be difficult to spot or incredibly noticeable depending on the type of damage. This is why its important to check the status of your roof after major storms or as it approaches the end of its lifespan.
The most obvious signs of external damage include broken shingles or missing shingles. Broken or damaged roofs include cracked shingles or shingles that are curling at the edges. This may also be a sign of mold or moss growth due to water damage.
Another sign of exterior damage comes from ineffective repairs. For example, those looking to minimize roof replacement costs might opt for a double layering option. This means that another layer of the roofing material installs on top of the existing material.
This is extremely ineffectual and can lead to even greater damage over time. Its worth paying a little extra for quality roof replacement so you dont have to pay more down the road.
Take Note Of Signs Of Wear
Climb back up that ladder and inspect these areas for deterioration:
- Shingles: Curling or missing shingles equates to holes in your roofs armor, leaving your home more vulnerable to the elements. Uneven discoloration, black streaks, and moss signal that this layer is past its prime.
- Storm gutters:Clogged storm gutters trap water along your roofs edges which may lead to mold and decay. Granules of your shingle material in the gutter are another telltale sign that its time for a swap out.
- Chimney flashing:Chimney flashing is the lining at the bottom of your chimney where it meets the roof. If your flashing is slathered with cracked cement or tar, youll want to upgrade to quality, water-tight fitting to prevent leaks. Note a red flag for rusty flashing, as well rusted flashing invites leaks and further structural damage.
- Wall and roof intersections: See decay where your roof meets the exterior walls? Damaged or missing step flashing allows water to settle into this meeting point, inducing corrosion.
- Attic ceiling: Your roof is leaking if you see any stains, streaks, or light beams underneath it. A sagging ceiling in the attic or top floor also suggests leakage.
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How Long Does A Standing Seam Metal Roof Last
A standing seam metal roof system is a series of panels that are locked together at the seams or seamed mechanically.
This allows for panels to expand and contract freely when the metal heats up and cools down. Because of this, a standing seam metal roof is the recommended metal roof for residential purposes.
You can expect to get around 30 years out of a standing seam metal roof and even up to 50 years in the right conditions. The reason for its durability comes down to the painted finish on the metal panels.
Your new standing seam metal roof comes with a 30-year paint warranty on the Kynar 500 finish on your metal panels. Even though the paint has a 30-year warranty, it doesnt mean its going to disappear after 30 years.
When To Replace Your Roof: How To Tell If Its Time
At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.
Last time you climbed up a ladder and cleaned out your gutters, you got a magnified view of your roof. A few turned up shingles, moss, some rust action are these blemishes normal, or are they signs that you need a new roof?
When you start noticing your roofs age, bring in the experts to determine if its time for a replacement. Roof damage can lead to leaks and cause significant structural damage. Plus, beyond protecting your home, your roof plays a key role in curb appeal when its time to sell.
We want our houses to look as good as possible from the curb and from the photographs. And now that we use a lot of aerial shots and drone shots, the roof is much more visible. So its just that much more important that the roof looks good, shares top real estate agent Andrew Oldham, who, along with his partner Jennifer Oldham, sells 70% more single-family homes in San Jose than the average agent.
Dont let a roof in disrepair bring down your homes value. Follow these six steps to determine if you need to replace your roof.
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Cracks Puncture Holes Or Splits On A Flat Roof
Felt flat roofs often fall victim to cracks, puncture holes or splits round the edges of the roof caused by extreme weather. In turn, this can lead to water leaking through the gaps and can escalate to excessive water damage inside your home. Therefore, you must address this problem as quickly as possible and have your existing roof replaced.
As an accredited member of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors , here at Abbey Roofing we recommend that your roof is inspected by a professional at least twice a year to ensure it remains in top working condition for many years to come. As a leading roofing company serving throughout Hertfordshire, we have a wealth of experience in providing first-class roof repairs, installations and replacements for:
The Guide With All The Information You Need For A Roof Replacement
Now you know how often the 5 most popular roofing materials need to be replaced. After reading this article, you should know if it’s near the time or the right time to replace your roof.
If it is, there’s a lot you need to learn about going through the roof replacement process. You need to choose the right roofing material, know how much your replacement will cost, how to hire a great roofing contractor, and so much more.
Wouldn’t it be great if all this information was in one place? If you answered yes, then we have the guide for you.
With The Complete Guide to Purchasing a Roof, you’ll become one of the most informed homeowners in the roofing industry. Don’t go into the roof replacement blind, get your free guide now.
Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has been proud to offer Nashville and surrounding areas high-quality roofing services. We strive to give you and everyone we work with an experience rare in the roofing industry based on honesty, education, and strong workmanship.
Heres Your Complete Guide to Purchasing a Roof to learn what you need to know about your upcoming roof replacement and to make all the right decisions.
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You Find Water Stains On Your Ceilings Or Attic Floor
Water stains on your ceilings or attic floor are a sure sign that there is an issue with your roof. One thing to note is a water stain doesnt always mean a leak, but it can indicate an issue with moisture in the attic, which can be related to a poorly insulated roof. If youve noticed this, its important to take action immediately and get the problem assessed by a professional so they can determine what needs to be repaired and if anything needs replacing.
Is Roof Cleaning Really Necessary
The roof of your house is something that you rarely see up close but you probably know that a complete roof replacement can be an expensive proposition. Because you want to get the longest life you can out of your roof, and avoid the need for a replacement before the time has come, getting your roof cleaned is important. Here are some common questions people have about roof cleaning and aspects that affect their roofs.
Why do people clean their roofs and how often?
Mold, algae and bacteria like to grow the wood and asphalt shingles on your roof at the earliest opportunity. The black stains you may have seen on your roof are due to these invaders. During the first couple years of your roofs life, the presence of bacteria was not noticeable because of the metal shards seeping out of the new material as it aged. This metal acts as a natural block for bacteria to thrive. The bacterium that makes a way underneath your shingles is the cause for concern, and this is where cleaning becomes needed.
Cleaning your roof regularly will give it a longer life and save you from buying a replacement instead. As to how often you need to clean your roof, the answer depends on a number of factors such as how much shade you have, how often leaves are on your roof, and so on.
What happens if you do not clean your roof?
Does it matter where you live?
Find a reputable roofer
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What About Hip Roofs
These roofs have a slope on all four sides and are usually of equal length. Because of this, they are much more stable than steeper roofs. The main disadvantage comes from the construction as these roofs are much more difficult and costly to build.
Flat roofs are usually used in commercial applications, but can also be found in residential homes. Their design is great for installing AC units or solar panels on top of, and are generally cheaper to install. They are not recommended in heavy rainfall or snow areas.
Life Expectancy Of Different Roofing Materials
Theres no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how often should you replace your roof. The type of roof on your home plays a big part in the decision since some materials have longer lifespans than others.
Here are the typical life expectancies of the most common types of roofs:
- Composition shingles: 12 to 20 years
- Asphalt shingles: 15 to 30 years
- Wood shingles: 20 to 25 years
- Metal: 50 to 100 years
- Slate: 100 years or more
The material isnt the only consideration though. Several other things play a part.
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Have You Chosen A Roofer That Will Actually Fix The Leak
After taking metal types into consideration make sure your roofer has actually designed metal flashings made from the correct materials for your environment to fix a leak.
If you get a roofer that uses only flashing tape to fix a leaking roof, this should only be a temporary fix to stop immediate water damage.
Flashing tapes are only supposed to be used as secondary water protection underneath the primary defense of a wall cladding or roofing material. At the same time, these flashing tapes react with some metals.
Flashing tapes will melt and degrade in the sun pretty quickly and you will have the same problem in a few weeks or months time.
As a general rule, a new flashing that has failed around the ocean should be replaced with pure zinc or stainless steel for a longer life span.
Know When A Roof Needs To Be Replaced
The decision to repair a partition of your roof or replace it fully should come down to your desired end result, and what the height access costs are, as you dont want to pay for this again in your future.
If its a big job find a qualified team that can get the job done ASAP, to reduce scaffold hiring costs, and if you only need to order a few sheets of corrugated iron for a full re-roof, do it while the scaffold is paid for and set up.
If you have the skills and the job is within your capabilities make sure you have the correct metal cutting tool for the job.
And of course, take into consideration the essential safety steps for working at dangerous heights.
More information:
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Your Asphalt Roof Was Damaged From A Storm
The weather where you live and the kind of storms your roof faces factor into how much wear and tear it goes through. But that isnt the only thing you have to worry about when it comes to weather.
This may seem obvious, but heavy storm damage will also lead to a roof replacement. If high winds come through and rip up your shingles or a tree falls on your roof then clearly youre going to need a new one.
If you have a metal roof system, then hail damage to your metal panels will lead to a replacement if the integrity of the metal is compromised. But for an asphalt shingle roof to be replaced from hail it has to cause damage to the soft metals that are on your roof.
Whatever kind of storm damage your roof has, its important to know if your roof is covered. Read this article on replacing your roof through homeowners insurance.
How Often Should You Replace Your Roof 5 Things To Know
If you dont know the answer to how often should you replace your roof, you could be overlooking some major and costly issues.
The signs showing its time to consider roof replacement often go unnoticed by homeowners. Especially with the wide array of lifespans of different materials, it can be challenging to know when should my roof be replaced.
Thats where this article comes in to help. Weve compiled a list of the top 5 things to know when asking does my roof need to be replaced?
It includes everything from considering the type of roof you have to watching for signs of interior damage. Continue reading to find out more about a roof replacement.
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Signs Of A Potential Roof Replacement:
- Curling shingles
- Molded shingles
- Leakages
If you are comfortable with it, you can climb to your rooftop and examine the roof on your own. This way youll have a look for yourself before contacting a professional roofing contractor. Just be sure to wear work boots or shoes that have reliable tread. Also, make use of a sturdy ladder. Safety first!
The direct impact of hail stones can dent your roof shingles. Dents will wear down the shingles and often times the granules from the shingles will roll down before getting stuck in the gutter. Hence, that is a common flaw to look out for throughout the spring/summer/fall months in Wylie, TX.
Obviously, a sagging and/or leaking roof are the most serious signs. If you notice either or both, seek the help of a roofing company IMMEDIATELY. Sagging and leaking are signals that your roof is about on its last breath. You will have to look closely for most blemishes, but its well worth it to climb atop your roof at least once a year on a nice sunny day to assess its condition.
So, to answer the questionhow often should my home undergo roof replacement? it depends on what type of roof you have and how your roof has been affected by the weather over the years. Use the life expectancy of your roof as a general guideline and have it inspected at least once a year after the 10-year mark.
What About Tile Shingles
The prettiest roofs are often made from tile shingles and are often made of lighter colors. These heavy duty tiles are some of the longest lasting, but also the most expensive. The upkeep on them is also a little bit higher and need maintenance from time to time. While tile roofs are less likely to need replacement because they have a longer lifespan, their age is still an important factor in determining the cost of replacing them. Tile roofing materials can last up to 75 or 100 years with proper care and maintenance.
Some shingles last up to 30 or 40 years, while others may not make it past the ten-year mark before they are either damaged beyond repair by weather and sun exposure, or have lost their ability to keep water out of your home.
A concrete roof is 20 to 30 years, depending on the quality. You will know that it needs replacing when you notice damage like spalling or cracking which
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Life Expectancy Of The Roof
According to most roofing experts, a standard roof should last between 20-25 years, depending on the initial installation and upkeep. If your roof is reaching the end of its life expectancy or is in a bad state of repair, you must arrange to have it replaced to avoid any damage to the interior of your home.
Signs You Need A Builder To Reframe Your Roof
When a roof needs to be reframed, its usually because the timber in your roof is rotting, or because the pitch on your existing roof is not steep enough to comply with your new roofing material. Or you want to increase your roof pitch for a more efficient solar panel angle.
If youre wondering, why does my roof look wavy? You want to get a builder to straighten the roof framing before you install a new roofing material, a wavy roof could be an indication of a leak and rotting timber that is deteriorating and sagging in extreme cases.
Or an up and down roof could be a sign of a sagging and sinking house. But more than likely some timber movement has just occurred over the years, or maybe it was just built that way, a little bit out of whack.
If you have any of these issues with your roof, it is worth contacting a builder to inspect it and assess whether new framing is appropriate.
As well as fixing existing issues with your roof, reframing can also give you more space in your property if you opt for designs that increase the height of your roof.
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