Most people don't really think about the roof over their heads until it's leaking or failing. Replacing a failing roof is more costly than repairing or replacing a roof without any major leaks or rotted areas. Let us help you determine if a new roof is in your near future.

START INSIDE

If you think you might need a new roof, the first place to inspect isn't the exterior roof. It's your attic. We highly recommend that homeowners inspect their attic twice a year. If you notice light coming through your decking, water stains, streaks, or condensation, it's time to call a roofer.

USEFUL LIFE

How old is your roof, exactly? A shingle roof has a useful life of 20-30 years, depending on how the roof was installed, maintained, and brands used. If you have t-lock shingles, it's definitely time to consider a roof replacement. How many layers of shingles are on your roof? The more layers, the more likely your roof is going to fail before the useful life.

Metal roofs installed prior to the 2000's have a useful life of approximately 50 years.

INSPECT THE EXTERIOR

It's important to inspect the roof exterior twice a year, or after heavy rains. Shingles and metal should lay flat against the roof. If you notice shingles that are cracked, damages, or buckling, these should be replaced immediately. If you notice shingle material (granules) in your gutters, this is a sure sign that the shingles are deteriorating.

Metal panels and flashings should lay flat against the roof, vents, chimney's, and skylights. Transition points should either be flashed or caulked. If caulking is rotted, pulling away, or missing, this will lead to leaks. In older roofs, flashing is often made of roof cement or tar. We highly recommend upgrading these flashings to metal for additional durability.

SAGGING

Does your roof sag? Do you know how to tell? Step back from your house so you can view the entire length of the roof line. If the roof dips or sags in spots, horizontally or vertically, it's time to consider a roof strip, redeck, and replacement. A sagging roof indicates too much weight on the structure (multiple layers of roofing material or snow load), trapped moisture, or rotting decking or trusses.

ROOFTOP GARDENS

Rooftop plants, moss, algae, and fungus tell us the roof is going to fail soon. If plants can grow on a roof, it means that there is an excessive amount of moisture, lack of direct sunlight, and points in that area that aren't completely sealed. Direct sunlight benefits a roof by removing any moisture that is trapped within the layers. Root systems are resilient and can actually grow into the roof causing lose shingles and weaken transition points in metal roofs.