How to Know When to Replace a Roof?

Periodically, a roof will reach the end of its lifespan without causing a roofing disaster.

It simply appears to be old and worn, and you are performing routine maintenance on your property. Repairs will be less effective as a roof gets older. You can keep repairing a roof, but it will just cost you more money in the long run. If your roofing is old or reaching the end of its original 20 to 30-year warranty, it’s a good idea to replace it.

However, putting off replacing an outdated roof could lead to worse difficulties down the road. So, keep an eye out for the warning signs to make sure you have enough time to add the activity to your to-do list.

If the roofing is severely damaged, you should consider replacing it. Some damages can be repaired to some extent. It’s time to replace the roofing if the degradation has started to compromise its structural integrity.

If you see a large amount of water damage or leakage in the interior of your home, you should replace your roof immediately away. Although some damage could be repaired, this could take a lot of time and effort. The most important thing is to get secure roofing on your home as quickly as possible.

If you find yourself in any of the following situations it might be time to replace your roof/re-roofing:

The existing roof has approached the end of its useful life.

Roofing doesn’t last indefinitely, and every roofing material has an expiration date. While clay or metal roofs might persist for centuries, asphalt roofs typically last only two decades. When you replace your roof entirely, you’re more likely to have a matching, consistent aesthetic, depending on the material.

Matching wood shingles that age naturally and change color in time is a real nightmare! As a result, an old set of wood shingles on a roof will invariably differ from a new shingle set. If you only have a portion of your shingles replaced, the patchiness will be visible. If visual uniformity is important to you, a complete roof replacement is likely if your current shingles are leaking.

Your roof does not meet today’s building codes.

If you want to maintain your house compliant with today’s construction requirements, new roofing may be your only alternative. While having new shingles installed over faulty, pre-existing ones can save money, you can only have two layers of shingles to be under building code. As a result, if you’ve already tried that, your next round of roofing problems may suggest that it’s time for a roof replacement.

If your roofing does not meet modern building codes, you may face complications if you decide to sell your home in the future.

Have these issues evaluated the next time you have a roofing professional inspect your current roof so you can at least know where your property stands in terms of local legal compliance?

A recent storm caused damage to your roof

Another circumstance that may force you to get new roofing is if your home has been damaged by weather events. If a hurricane or tornado has gone through your neighborhood, for example, your roof’s structure could be severely harmed, even if the damage appears to be isolated to the human eye.

Some homes will survive local storms with their roofs mostly intact – at least, that’s what it appears to be. A hurricane or tornado, on the other hand, can create significant structural damage that isn’t always visible. Even if your roof is made of one of the more durable materials available, it may need to be replaced if it has been damaged by a natural disaster. If something has happened to your roofing, a roof inspector will be able to tell you.

The damage is far too extensive to be restored.

In some cases, a roof will be too badly damaged to be repaired. Some examples include:

• If a tree falls directly on your house, the damage will almost certainly be too substantial to restore.
• If leaks are occurring throughout the house rather than just in one or two isolated spots, it’s time to invest in a new roof.

Roof repairs, on average, can fix the damage that covers about 30 percent or less of your roofing. Any damage that exceeds that threshold will almost certainly leave you with no choice but to replace your roof entirely.

Any repairs would only be a stopgap measure.

Despite the fact that new roofs cost more than repair work, the difference is not necessarily significant all the time. When the price difference is so little, you might as well go with roof replacement rather than repair, especially if repair is merely a stopgap remedy.

If a new one costs only $500 to $1000 more than the required repair work — which would already put your total well into the four figures — it’s probably advisable to go with the new one. If it’s nearing its end of life, any repairs you make will likely only extend its life by four or five years. So you’d be spending nearly as much for something you’d have to buy anyhow in a few years.

You prefer a completely new roof that will increase the resale value of your home

A renovated façade is perhaps the most obvious benefit a homeowner can gain from a spanking new roof – at least from the outside. A new roof could be one of the most important expenditures in a visual facelift if you’re wanting to liven up and refresh your house. Regardless matter the material chosen, new roofs exude a sense of newness.

Let us be your trusted local roof replacement contractor

For help with your re-roof project, reach out today to us if you are in the Lawrenceville or Atlanta, GA, area. Call Advanced Roofing and Remodeling at: 404-341-2523