What is Normal Wear and Tear of a Roof and When Should You Consider Repairs?
Over time, your roof is going to start to look a little worse for wear.
While it should hold up for many years, as it reaches the end of its lifespan, wear and tear start to catch up. You can go some time with your roof looking a little ragged and not need to get it replaced right away, although you should start thinking about your options.
Other times, repairs may be imminent.
How do you tell the difference?
For homeowners, a roofing professional and their inspection are really the best resources you can use to decide if your roof is aging normally or if it needs repairs. That said, before you call up your roofer, you may still want some idea of what is normal and what is not.
We’ll elaborate on that below.
Normal Wear & Tear
Over time, your shingles will change. These are the signs of normal wear and tear, and not usually cause for immediate repairs:
- Worn look: Shingles will begin to look brittle and less solid near the very end of their lifespan. Note that sometimes this brittle aged look is mistaken for hail damage.
- Faded color: The UV rays from the sun slowly fade out the color of your shingles. This is particularly true for the darkest brown and black shades and less true for lighter colors.
- Dark spots: The shingles will shed small amounts of the granules over time, which can end up leaving behind darker spots where the core material shines through. However, large amounts of granule loss may indicate you need a replacement right away.
- Algae: Algae growth can be unsightly, but it very rarely causes functional problems with the roof. You can consider this normal wear and tear, or you could get the affected shingles replaced.
While this is all normal wear and tear, that doesn’t mean it is good. These are definitely all signs that your roof is approaching the end of its life cycle and may soon need to be replaced.
When Do You Need Roof Repairs?
These are all signs that your roof does need a professional’s help:
- Missing shingles
- Cracked shingles
- Broken, curled and otherwise deformed shingles
- Bent flashing
- Rusted flashing
- Missing flashing
- Exposed underlayers of roofing
- Missing layers of the roof
- Roof that looks like it is sagging
- Roof that looks like it is swollen
- Large, considerable hail damage
- Moss growth that is working beneath the shingles
- Condensation in the attic
- Clogged or missing roof vents
- Ice dams
Of course, if you have a leak, you also need roof repair even if you’re not quite sure which of these potential issues is causing the leak.
Eventually the day will come that your roof will meet its maker, as it were. Don’t ignore the warning signs or it could become a very costly if not a major safety problem.
The Len Roofing & Remodeling Difference
When we say that we’re a top-quality home remodeling and roofing company that serves the North Shore and surrounding Chicagoland area, we back it up. We do more than simply cover the basics: we show up on time and nail it. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 847-768-6000 or visit our contact page.
