Things to consider if someone tells you your shingled roof needs to be replaced
If you have ever heard from a contractor that your roof needs to be replaced, it is reasonable to assume you might have questioned the validity of their statement. Rightfully so, in some cases. This article is designed to help you along if you have ever been down this road.
The first thing to know is how old is your roof.
With typical asphalt shingles, they begin to break down after 10 years. This only means that from just normal conditions and wear and tear some granules begin to fall out and the aging process begins to speed up. This does not necessarily mean that you need a new roof from that alone. In most cases, this starts to occur around half of the roof’s lifespan. However, there are many different factors that can alter that timeline.The type of shingle can alter the lifespan of your roof.
There are many manufacturers and each have several different lines of shingles, some of which may increase the life of your roof. How it is produced and the specific polymers added can significantly increase the life by adding flexibility, better granule adhesion and higher impact rating. Knowing what shingles you have installed can give you better insight into how long they may last. The pitch of the roof, the direction of each slope, the amount of tree coverage are all factors that can alter the shingles aging process as well.What types of storms has your roof endured?
Storms in your area can drastically change the lifespan of your roof. Hail and strong winds can greatly reduce the life of your roof. Knowing what size hail may have hit your home and how strong the wind gusts were can give you better insight.Knowing what to look for after a storm like this is the key. With strong winds, you might see folded back or missing shingles. They may end up in your yard. This may not mean your roof needs to be replaced, but it is a sure sign that you need a trusted contractor to look at your roof closer.
With hail damage, it truly takes a trained eye to know what hail damage looks like. For some massive Texas sized hail damage it may be obvious, but for most Midwest hail storms having someone that can differentiate between true hail damage and a blister or granule loss is paramount. When asphalt matting becomes bruised from hail damage the granules get knocked away and also embedded into the matte. You will often see quite a bit of granules washing out your downspouts.
Have a trusted Contractor perform an inspection and show you visual evidence that there is damage or explain why they believe the roof needs to be replaced.
