5 Signs It's Time to Replace Your Asphalt Shingle Roof

Look for signs

Look up in your records of home improvement to determine when the roof was installed. Unless you know how old the roof is, if you bought a pre-owned house, it helps to hire a professional roofing contractor to inspect the roof to give you a reasonable estimate.

Curling or Buckling Shingles

The curling or buckling of shingles is one of the evident symbols of aging and wear. This could be because of the continuous exposure to hard weather, improper ventilation in the attic, or simply because the shingles have worn out over the years.

Symptoms:

• Shingles that are curled at the edges or that otherwise show a curved appearance.
• Shingles that are buckling, causing a wavy appearance on your roof’s surface.

Solution:

• If only a few shingles show this wear, you may want to do a spot repair.
• If the majority of the roof shows such signs, then it is time for a full replacement.

Missing Shingles

Missing shingles leave your roof exposed to water leaks and damage. This can occur due to strong winds, storms, or over time when brittle shingles break off.

Symptoms

• Obvious gaps where the shingles are missing
• Shingles on the ground surrounding your house following a storm

Solution

• Seal gaps with missing shingles to prevent further deterioration
• Inspect the overall state of the roof for any necessary replacement

Granules in Gutters

Asphalt shingles are coated with granules that protect them from the sun’s UV rays, providing additional strength to them. With time, such granules wear out, making the roof structure weaker and less effective. Secondly, signs include:

• Granules in your gutters or at the bottom of your downspouts
• Bald spots or areas on your shingles where the granules have worn away

Solution:

• Clean your gutters regularly and check for granules.
• In case of excessive lost granules, this serves as an indicator of your fast deteriorating shingles that should be replaced.

Roof Leaks and Water Damage

Among the most serious indications that call for roof replacement is when there is a leak in your roof or water damage. In case water infiltration goes unaddressed, it can cause loads of structural damage, mold growing exposures, and other issues quite expensive to resolve or restore.

Signs:

• Water spots on your ceiling or walls.
• Damp or wet patches in your attic, specially after a rainstorm.
• Growing mold or mildew inside your house, which would indicate that there is a continuous moisture issue.

Solution:

• After finding the leaking spot, do a detailed investigation of its cause.
• Once-off patching of isolated leaks may solve the leaking problem for some time, but large-scale water damages generally need replacement of a roof.

Knowing all of the symptoms and signs that signal the need for replacement of your asphalt shingle roof can significantly help in keeping the integrity of the home structure and avoiding more significant issues down the line. If any of these signs are noticed, it is highly important to contact a professional roofing contractor who will have to provide an expert assessment and recommendations on the best course of action.