Taking care of your property is no doubt one of your top priorities as a homeowner. The better care you take of your home, the less likely you’ll be to run into big unexpected repairs. Minor repairs should be taken care of as soon as possible and are far more affordable than putting it off and dealing with major repairs or a full system replacement. You have enough expenses to deal with without a sudden costly roof problem. That is why you should learn some of the glaring signs of larger roof problems.
Because your roof is often out of sight and out of mind, you aren’t likely to give it much consideration. The reality, however, is that your roof undergoes a tremendous amount of stress over the course of a year. Battling extreme weather, temperature fluctuations, and full days of baking sunlight, some level of deterioration of the shingles is inevitable. In order to ensure your property is well protected, one question you should be able to answer is when do I need to replace my roof shingles?
Here are tips and suggestions for how to answer this question.
Missing Shingles and Bald Spots
This is one of the most common and apparent issues that indicates you need new shingles and possibly a new roof. If you are missing shingles, chances are this wasn’t just a one-off area of the house, and the shingles here happened to be defective or were poorly installed. If these shingles start to fall off (usually due to strong winds), inspect the surrounding shingles as soon as possible. You may need more than just the missing shingles replaced.
Beyond missing shingles, the current shingles might have bald spots. This means the little asphalt granules of the shingles have worn off. Typically this happens over time. It isn’t something that you’ll generally see with new roofs. Instead, it is something that occurs over the years and decades and is basically a miniature version of erosion. The wind and rain will slowly wear down the granules of shingles until there isn’t anything left. Not all shingles will wear the same way. A part of your home may be under greater duress from the wind based on its position and the angle of the roof. Whatever the cause might be, you need to have these shingles replaced.
Cracked Shingles
Upon inspection of the roof, you may notice some shingles are starting to split and crack. Some of the shingles may have already fallen off, or the shingles may be at the beginning of this phase where you notice some splits in the shingles. This will likely be more noticeable with wood shingles/shakes, but over time, asphalt shingles will start to crack as well. If you spot one shingle that has cracked, chances are other shingles are also cracking (or on the verge of cracking).
Should you spot cracked shingles, it is best to call in a roof inspection to spot any other damaged shingles on the roof and to have them replaced or repaired.
Dark Spots and Moss
If you have noticed dark streaks on patches of your roof, it is likely due to airborne algae. Sometimes this isn’t all that harmful, and all your roof needs is a cleaning. Other times it can lead to other issues. It is best to inspect the roof so you know what is going on and what needs to be done to correct it.
On the other hand, moss can grow if the roof is shaded and isn’t in direct sunlight. Much like the moss that extends around the base of trees and other plants, the moss itself isn’t always damaging. However, the moss will absorb moisture and spread around the roof over time. As the moss grows, it can begin to push up the bottom of the shingle from growth on the preceding course and compromise the adhesive seal between the two. It is much easier to clean a little moss off than a large amount as it typically requires LIGHT scrubbing of the roof surface. We emphasize light as it takes very little pressure to damage the roof granules.
Curled Shingles
It might be possible to spot this from the ground, but if not, it is relatively easy to see once you are on the roof. If shingles have curled edges, it is time to have them replaced. The curved edges will prevent proper rain channeling, which can lead to water damage and moisture seeping into the roof under the shingles. This is another instance where you will need to replace the shingles sooner rather than later.
Schedule A Roof Inspection Today
When was the last time you had your roof inspected? A good rule of thumb is to have your roof inspected annually. From ground level, seeing what is going on with your roof can be challenging. Unless there are noticeable dark spots of shingles on your roof days after the last rain, or if shingles have physically blown off the top, chances are you won’t be able to spot problems from your lawn.
And even if you were to climb onto the roof, knowing what to look for can be challenging if you need roofing expertise. Instead, you will be better off having a certified, trained contractor visit your home and perform the annual inspection. This way, they can identify issues before they become more severe.
So, if you have not had your roof inspected in the last 12 months, now is the perfect time to schedule an inspection. With the warmer months here to stay, it’s the ideal way to start your spring cleaning. Call the staff here at Charlotte Roofing Specialists, and we’ll get to work inspecting your roof.