While there are common signs that can indicate that you need a new roof installation, such as leaks and cracks, there are plenty of things that you should look out for in regards to the health of your roof. As a rule of thumb, you should always have a yearly roof inspection. This will identify the factors that may be compromising your roof.

Outward Signs That You May Need a New Roof

When you're checking your roof, one aspect of the roof that you may not consider a serious sign of roof damage, is shingle health. Broken, damaged, or moss-covered shingles can be a root cause of a much larger problem. When shingles are damaged it allows for moisture to penetrate your roof. This can lead to leaks, rot, and even serious structural damage to your roof.

While on your roof check your gutters. An excess of gutter build-up can be an indication that your shingles are beginning to lose their granules. Alternatively, it could also be an indication that your shingles are breaking off and clogging the gutters. If this is the case you are getting a log of moisture back-up, leading to structural rot.

What You May Not See

Roof rot can be hard to spot but needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. If your roof is rotting, you risk it spreading and impacting the structure of your home itself. When looking for roof rot you want to look at both the outside of the roof, and also check how the wood appears from underneath (in the attic). If the wood is discolored in spots. You can also test the wood by feeling it Rotted wood is soft and can crumble easily.

Weather Damage

After a significant storm, you can have severe damage. These can range from trees or branches falling in heavy storms, hail, or extreme snow. Weather damage can affect the structure of your roof, damage shingles, and lead to rot and a compromised roof.

Monitor Your Roof's Health

according to Perfection Roofing, the lifetime of a roof is around 10 to 20 years, depending on the style of roof, then you need to look into a roof replacement. Your roof is arguably the most important part of your home, it should be looked at as an investment. A mew roof installation not only protects your home but also greatly increases the value.