5 Signs You Need A New Roof

While there are many factors that lead to needing a new roof, it is very typical that homeowners are not sure how to answer the question “Do you need a new roof?”. In fact, most homeowners have only been in their attic at most a handful of times and rarely take time to look at the roof, even though we are presented with the opportunity daily. Aside from the obvious signs such as leaks or missing shingles, listed below are 5 things homeowners should take a moment to look at occasionally.

 1.) Wavy Decking:

Wavy decking may not be obvious at first, but at different times of the day, it may become obvious. Wavy decking comes in the form of lines running from top to bottom, making it look like the shingles are bowing on the rafters. In most cases, this is caused by a poor install or poor ventilation in the attic. When it comes to roofing, the decking is the foundation that everything rests on, so if the decking is misaligned, rafters are bowing or the ventilation is causing the wood to swell and/or delaminate, you may want to consider calling a contractor.

 2.) Damaged Flashings:

It comes as no surprise that anywhere there is a hole in the roof, there is potential for water to eventually get in. The deterrent to this is installing soft metals, or what is known as flashings. Flashing is always installed where the roof meets a vertical surface. Typically, step flashing and apron flashing last a very long time, but if these metals are curling, lifting, detaching or just flat out not there at all, it would be a good time to call a professional to take a look.

 3.) Curling/ Lifted Shingles:

It is easy to look past this since most homeowners don’t inspect their roof very often, but it may be the difference between simple preventative maintenance and the shingle being completely blown off. If shingles are curling up, it means they are either old and near the end of their life or something has caused it to lift out of place (wind, rotted decking, etc.). If shingles are curling down around the edges of your roof, it means the shingles are worn and need to be replaced or that when the roof was installed, the shingles didn’t have enough support and/or overhung the roof line too much. Of course, this could be a simple repair, but many times, this is a sign that your roof is failing and may need to be replaced.

 4.) Ice Damming:

Another sign that your roof may be failing is if you have excessive ice build up on or above your gutters. Ice damming occurs when melted snow from the warm area of the roof re-freezes near the eaves/gutter lines. Ice and water shield was invented in the 1980’s but has changed drastically over the years in efficiency. Code in most cities is cited as “two feet beyond the warm wall”, but many companies either didn't install enough or flat out ignored it to save money. If you have ice damming, you should consider putting a roof inspection a bit higher on your To Do list.

 5.) Ventilation:

Up until the late 1960’s, it wasn’t really known how important ventilation for a roof really was. With all of the advancements since, however, it’s been found to be one of the most crucial factors to the lifespan of your roof. Poor ventilation can cause your roof to fail due to the severe heat and moisture conditions, creating damage to the wood decking, rafters and even make nails weaker from rusting. Having sub-par ventilation can vastly change the overall health of the wood, many times making or breaking the integrity of the roofing system.

 Conclusion:

While there are many other signs that your roof may need replacement, these are a good start for every homeowner to take a quick look for, even if you aren't at the point of a leak yet. It is very important that you stay aware and continue preventative maintenance as a homeowner to avoid a more costly project from waiting for an issue to present itself.

Not sure if these are issues on your home? Click the “Contact Us” box above and see when we can be out to help! We serve southeast Michigan and would love to meet with you!