Your roof is an integral part of the structure of your home, and it is important that it is regularly maintained and cared for to ensure it is strong and stable—able to do the job it was given to the best of its ability and withstand the pressures of its environment. There comes a time, however, when a replacement is inevitable, and this can be an expensive choice for a homeowner to make. So how can you tell if your roof needs replacing, or whether a repair is sufficient?
The best option is to call on the advice of a professional in the field, such as Northwest Roof Maintenance. In the meantime, however, here are the signs that you may need to start saving for a replacement.
Water Damage
Water damage on your roof can be hard to spot, and the first sign is usually finding damp patches inside the house. If you see signs of watermarks, mildew, or even puddles in your upstairs rooms, check your roof. If caught early enough this can be replaced; failure to notice will result in you needing a whole new roof.
Moss And Mold
You should also check for signs that mold and moss are growing on your roof tiles. This can sometimes grow between the tiles, forcing them apart and allowing water into your house, or growing fungi and bacteria which can mean you need a replacement. If the damage has spread to multiple areas, you will need to replace the whole roof.
Let There Be Light
Perhaps the easiest way to tell if there is damage to your room is to check for light coming in. Make a habit of turning off all the lights upstairs, and checking to see if any is coming from above. This could indicate that there are cracks or holes in the roof which need attention. Again, spotting and quickly fixing these could prevent you from having to replace the whole structure.
Loose Tiles
You should check your roof regularly for any loose tiles. These are easy to spot and can be easily replaced if there are only one or two. If you see more than three, however, the news is bad: you are likely you need to replace the entire roof to prevent the collapse of the existing structure sure to weakness. This is urgent and should be addressed as soon as possible.
Spot The Sag
Sagging is another sign that something may be seriously wrong. When you look at the top of your roof, you should see a straight long along the ridge. A sag can indicate that there is severe structural damage, and this increases the risk of collapse if not addressed.
To help prevent this, make sure that your materials are good quality and installed by experts, and that they are specially designed for your environment — for example, able to withstand high winds or excessive snowfall. If the sagging is too extreme, it will mean needing to remove and replace with a brand new roof to prevent further damage to the property.
