Six Signs That Your Home Needs A New Roof

A roof is one of the essential parts of a home. It keeps the inside of your home dry and contributes to the overall structural integrity of your house. A West Michigan  roof needs to be in good condition, or else other structural problems will occur. For example, if you have a leaky roof and ignore it, then the water may seep into the walls and ceiling, where it can weaken the very beams that keep your house standing. In this situation, mold may begin to grow as well, but that will be the least of your concerns if your house begins to fall apart around you. For both of these reasons, you need to keep an eye on the roof of your home. Checking it regularly for damage is the best way to alleviate these concerns and stay ahead of any potential situations. Here are some things to look for.

1) There are sections of missing shingles.

This is a very clear sign that you need a new roof. When you examine your roof, these may look like bald patches, where you can see the wood that makes up the top of your house. This occurs when the nails that adhere the shingles to the roof begin to weaken. Usually, this type of damage happens during a storm, so it’s not unusual to see entire patches of shingles on the ground after a large thunderstorm or on a windy day. However, if your shingles fall off in patches even on a sunny day, then this is a sign of a larger problem. No matter what, missing shingles are the most obvious sign that your roof needs to be replaced.

2) Your roof is more than fifteen years old.

The average age of a roof tends to be between twenty and twenty-five years. However, depending on the weather conditions (and we all know that West Michigan is prone to weather fluctuations) your home’s roof might have a shorter lifespan. If you’ve lived in your home for quite some time, then you more than likely have a good idea of its age. Once it starts approaching the fifteen-year mark, unless it has clear issues, like broken and missing shingles before then, you need to start inquiring about how much it will cost to replace. If you aren’t sure how old your roof is, you can check your county’s real estate records. Regular updates are made to this appraisal database, and it often notes when a new roof has been added.

3) It rains both inside and outside of your home.

A leaky roof is one of the most obvious signs that this part of your home needs to be replaced. If your shingles fail, then the water gets through to the inside of your house. It will first appear in the form of small drips; then, if you ignore the issue, those drips will get larger. Before you know it, it will be raining inside your home at the same time that it’s raining outside. When this happens, it’s definitely time for a new roof. An expert home renovation company will be able to locate the source of that leak, repair that section of the roof, and then put on an entirely new set of shingles. This will solve the problem.

4) There are bits of shingles in your gutters.

If you clean your gutters out on a regular basis (and if you don’t West Michigan residents, you should), then you’ll notice right away that something has gone wrong with your current roof, as long as you know what to look for.  Some of the more common gutter-cleaning finds include leaves, sticks, and twigs, and maybe even clear remnants of bird’s nest. However, if you come across small pieces of your shingles, then your roof has a problem. These shingle bits, also called granules, can be as small as a coin, but they are a sign that your roof needs to be replaced. Sometimes shingles will begin to fray at the edges, which then fall into the gutters on windy or rainy days. This damage is much smaller and less noticeable than entire patches of missing shingles, so you might not catch it at first. Shingle granules are often the first sign that your roof has reached the end of its lifespan.

5) Parts of your roof begin to sag.

Another very obvious sign that your roof – actually, your entire house – is in trouble is when your roof begins to sag. This usually starts at one of the outside corners, where water will begin to pool and then seep into your house. This is a sign of structural weakness, usually caused by shingle issues. Water will leak underneath the shingles, and over time, your roof supports will be damaged. When you see this, it’s time to call in the experts at Home Pro of West Michigan! If this type of an issue is ignored, it will just get worse, and the eventually the structural integrity of your entire home will be called into question.

6) While in your attic, you see the light coming in – and it’s not coming from the windows.

It’s always a good idea to examine the underside of your roof. You can do this by heading into your attic with a flashlight on a sunny day. Leave the main attic lights off and use the flashlight to ensure that you won’t trip over anything. Once you get to a safe space, turn the flashlight off and look for small slivers of sunlight on the attic floor and walls. If these bits of light aren’t coming in from any windows, then they’re a sure sign that your roof has problems. That light is seeping in from small cracks in your roof.

If your roof leaks, sags, has damaged shingles or has signs of cracks, then you need to get it replaced. It’s time to call Home Pro of West Michigan. We can replace your roof and make any necessary repairs. Call us today.