Having a roof over your head is one of life’s essentials. Ensuring that the roof that you have over your head is in good condition is vital to protecting your family home and providing the warmth, comfort and aesthetic that you want for your home.
Your roof is one of the most durable elements of your home, but at some point or another though, you’re going to have to partially or wholly replace your roof. Even though they’re hard wearing, they have a finite shelf life, and eventually you’ll need to get a new one for your home because you’ll run the risk of leaks and damage. There are some hard and fast warning signs – red flags, if you will – that indicate when it’s time to get a new roof for your home, so take a look here and see if any of these apply to your house.
Your roof is getting older
This is a pretty easy one to assess, because it’s not a visual thing at all, it simply requires you to know how old your roof is. Experts in these kinds of things say that the average lifespan of your roof is around 20 to 25 years. This also depends on the kind of material that you have for a roof – for example, shingles with multiple layers generally last a slightly shorter amount of time, so you’re looking at around 20 years between replacements. Metal roofs, on the other hand, can last from around 40 to 70 years, depending on the materials that you have. Even so, every roof will need to be replaced at some point or another, so it pays to have the age of your roof in the back of your mind.
You can see daylight through the ceiling boards
This is a pretty big indicator of the fact that your roof might be slightly compromised. If you can see daylight coming through the ceiling boards, this should be ringing alarm bells as it generally means that the roof itself has some issues. You should consider a roof replacement in Melbourne if you’re worried about the safety of your roof, because Melbourne is notorious for its sporadic and at times, harsh weather conditions. You’re likely to run into trouble, regardless of whether you live in Victoria or Queensland if you fail to take action in this scenario.
Moss and algae
You need to be vigilant with a tiled or slate roof to ensure that you don’t have an excessive amount of moss or algae on the tiles. Over time, the build up of these natural growths can cause leaks and excessive damage which can alter the structural integrity of your roof.
Buckling or curling shingles
If you have a shingled roof, and you notice signs of the shingles buckling or curling, it can be a very clear indicator of the fact that your roof is in need of replacement. If you’re not sure about this, check the side of the roof that gets the most sunlight and make your assessment from that spot. If your roof isn’t around the 20 to 25 year old mark, you might be able to check your roof warranty for reimbursement for potentially faulty shingles. Even better still, some shingles come with a lifetime warranty, so be sure to know what your options are.
Water damage or leaks
If you notice some signs of water damage in your home, this can potentially be due to a leaky roof. As such, you need to ensure that you take immediate action and catch the leak before it becomes a problem. Consult a professional to assess the damage thoroughly, including other areas of the roof. Doing this can save you a lot of potential heartache (and wallet ache).
Good luck with your roof and be sure to check it twice a year for any of these potential red flags.
Re “You should consider a roof replacement in Melbourne if you’re worried about the safety of your roof” well,. our house is in Massachusetts, USA, so it would be extremely expensive to have our house transported to Melbourne, to have a new roof put on. Isn’t there any way, we can just have a new roof put on here in Massachusetts, although Im sure they have very good roofing companies in Melbourne.
No doubt that you’ll find some great roofers in Massachusetts as well! And if you do and would like to share about your experience with others, I’m sure we’ll be happy to hear about it!
This is some great information, and I appreciate your point that asphalt shingle roofs last about 20 years. My roof is around eighteen years old, and it was damaged in a recent storm, so I’ve been wondering whether I should have it repaired or replaced. Since it’s so close to the end of its lifespan, I’ll just look into replacing the whole thing. Thanks for the great post!
My home is older than most and after reading I’ll be sure to replace my roof soon. I’ll make sure to get a new roof installed so I won’t have to worry about it for another 20 years. That way I’ll be able to keep my home, and my family safe.
Moss and algae is something that is totally foreign to me. I live in a desert climate, and it’s rare to see moss or algae. I never knew that it could be a problem to roofs. I can see how that would be a problem though!
I noticed that a few of my shingles have been curling a little bit, so I was wondering if this is something I should be concerned about. I’m glad that I came across this post so that I can learn how this is a sign that I need a new roof. I’ve had the same roof for over twenty years, so now would be a good time to replace it with one that doesn’t need as many repairs.
All of your signs, the algae, the warping, and sunlight coming through, are extreme signs that your roof needs to be replaced. However, I would recommend looking for the other minor signs that can tell you your roof needs to be al least repaired. For example, if your roof is leaking, you should probably get it looked at. What is a minor problem can lead to a huge problem!
Great article, Up here in Ontario the most popular roofing system is asphalt shingles. Now although most companies guarantee a 20, 25 some even 40 year life span, I would highly advise you to have it inspected every 10-15 years. We have harsh winters and hot summers which means our shingles go through both extremes.
My husband and I have lived in our house for a long time now, and we haven’t had our roof replaced. Not only that, but I’m not sure how long it’s been there before we moved in the house. I’m sure it’s more than 25 years old, and so I need to follow your advice, and have it replaced.
Good Base article! I would also recommend that a good roof Cleaning and Maintenance program can keep you on top of the life of your roof and prolong the need for replacement by years! Great point about knowing the signs. Hopefully the damage doesn’t have to get to this point before some intervention is done. Thanks so much for the piece. Roofing is important and sometimes not as revered as bathrooms and kitchens as having value in the home.
I think it is important to have the roof inspected when you purchase a home, be aware of how old it is, the material it is made out of, and the life expectancy. You should keep an eye on it and look for signs of wear and tear. Great information on what to look out for, thanks for sharing!
That’s interesting that roof warranties can last 20-25 years. That must be because that’s how long roofs usually last anyways. A tip you didn’t mention is to watch if your neighbors are getting repairs; neighborhoods are often built around the same time, so local houses may need repairs in similar time frames.