There are a few things that you can ask yourself when determining if you need a new roof. Outside of making a note of how long you’ve had the roof, you should look at more. Consider what kind of severe weather ailments it has had to endure and if you’re experiencing leaking. There are other things to look at, too. It’s not just your environment and how you treat your roof that determines how long it’s going to last. How your roofing materials were handled, stored, and installed all play a part too. There are some common signs that you can look for to help you decide if your roof needs replacing.

Go Over Your Records

As a rule of thumb, your receipts and paperwork that came with your roof are going to give you a lot of answers. While it is a more technical way of making the decision, the information can let you know if you should be replacing your roof every 20 or 25 years. If there’s nothing visibly wrong with your roof, knowing how much time it has left can give an idea of when you may start to see issues.

Dark or Light Patches

Small granules protect the asphalt in your roofing shingles. When the granules fall or wear off, you might notice that your shingles look like they have dark or light patches. You won’t have to worry about getting a leak when the granules are missing, but they are still critical. These tiny parts of the shingles work toward protecting the asphalt from the sun’s UV rays. Your shingles wear out faster without them.

Water Damage

Many problems come from water damage to a roof. It only takes as much as a rough wind storm to blow some shingles out of place, and your roof could leak. This damage becomes even more detrimental if it’s not something you notice right away. Missing out on leaks or water damage could cause rotting tiles in your ceiling and roof, and it could even cause sagging. If you feel like you’ve missed a hole, you can check your shingles for unexpected moss. If you suddenly have a forest growing from your roof, there’s a good chance that you’ve developed a leak or have some hidden moisture.

It Fails Self-Inspection

You should be doing a self-inspection on your roof every other year. It undoubtedly costs you a pretty penny, and you want to make sure that your investment stands the test of time. You can do a simple home inspection by checking your attic for water damage and looking for some common signs on and around your roof. Your review may fail if you find curling shingles, soft spots that indicate rotting, streaking, and more. This could be an apparent indication that it’s about time to replace your roof.

After you’ve looked for common signs, go with your gut instinct. If you feel like it’s a good idea to have a proper inspection done, you should hire a contractor to assess your roof. There are plenty of inspection services that are available to you. Experts can give you advice, quotes, and their opinion on whether or not you need a full replacement or work done on individual shingles