How to know when it’s time to replace your roof

November 30, 2021 by Tonia Hornsby

The roof plays a very important role in your home. It is the first and most conspicuous part of your house in Pearl, MS. To a potential buyer, the condition of your roof will make or break the deal since it gives the first impression. The roof does the toughest job of protecting your house from all the harsh elements of the environment. Your roof may inevitably exhibit signs of wear and tear after serving you for many years. For most people, it is easy to overlook the importance of maintaining your roof until something goes wrong, like water leakages or the formation of mold.

Early detection of the roof’s impending need or replacement can save you money in costly repairs and lessen the danger of injury or damage to your property and occupants. Also, when you are trying to sell your home, it will fetch a better price if the roof and other parts of the house are in good condition. Here are the signs that indicate it is time to replace your roof.

Visible Water Stains Damage on the Attic

Roof leaks can be detected by moisture marks, stains, and peeling paint on walls and ceilings. Ensure you inspect the rafters in your attic for signs of dampness or leaks. It is easy to miss a sign because you may lack adequate tools to check. You should regularly hire a professional roofer to evaluate your roof for damages.

This will save you a lot of money in repair costs. By frequently checking the status of your roof, you will be able to spot minor damages and address them before they become a significant problem. Also, a certified professional has the proper equipment and safety procedures to inspect your roof from the ground up.

When the Roofing Material is Too Old

The age of your roof plays a crucial role in how susceptible it is to damages. As the roofing material gets old, it will easily be damaged compared to new roofing. An average roof can last anywhere from 20 to 50 years, but this varies considerably based on the quality of the material used.

Asphalt shingles will typically endure 10 to 20years. Metallic roofs can last up to 30 to 50 years and will require little to no maintenance during this period. Clay tiles, on the other hand, can last over 40 years, depending on the climatic conditions of a place. It is important to know how long your roof has served you so that you can figure out how long it will last. You can get this information from your home improvement records if you’re unsure when the roof was first installed.

Some Shingles Missing on the Roof

Roofs in Pearl, MS, are put under a lot of stress by intense hailstorms, strong winds, and other weather challenges. Extreme winds can cause the shingles to lift or fall off entirely from the roof. It is possible to repair a few missing shingles, but this is dependent on where they are located on the roof and how well they are maintained. When you notice many shingles are missing on your roof, it is time to replace the entire roof because the damaged shingles are the point of weakness for even more damages.

Hail or Storm Damages on the Roof

It is important to inspect your roof for damages immediately after a hailstorm. When there are visible damages on your roof caused by the hailstorm, it means your roof has become weak. Continued use of such a roof will lead to costly repairs of the entire roof. When this happens, it is time to replace the entire roof completely.

When the Roof is Out of Shape

Your roof can be out of shape by sagging on one side. This is a clear sign that the roof’s supporting planks are either broken or rotten because of dampness. If your roof is drooping and sagging, it is time to get a new one before further harm is done to your house and the occupants.

Look for signs of moisture accumulation and decaying boards on the sagging areas of the roof. This usually happens on the lower sides of the roof when the water comes in contact with the roofing planks. This can easily be identified by looking at your house from a distance. However, if you cannot identify this yourself, consider consulting a professional roofing expert to help you.

Formation of Molds and Fungi on the Roof

If you notice the formation of moss, mold, or fungi on your roof, you probably have a leakage somewhere that allows water to seep in through the shingles. Use a firm brush to remove moss from the dark shady corners of your roof. Check the roof for underlying issues that may cause the mold to form. When this persists, it is time to replace your entire roof. Contact a roofing expert to evaluate the roof if the mold is still visible after a thorough cleaning.

When Some Shingles Are Curled or Buckled

A curled or buckled shingle indicates that it is no longer adhering to the roof and that it has been damaged in some way. When it rains, the curved surface might be further damaged by strong winds or excessive water seepage. Failure to fix curled or bucked shingles will affect the entire roof as it will allow water to seep to other parts of the roof hence damaging the supporting planks. If a few shingles are damaged, repairing will fix the problem. But when a large percentage of the roof is affected, it is time to have the entire roof replaced.

Conclusion

The signs that your roof needs replacement may sometimes not be clear. You need a certified roofing contractor to help you evaluate your roof. Contact us at Complete Exteriors in Perl, MS. We are GAF-certified roofing contractors based in Central Mississippi. We specialize in residential and commercial reroofs. We also manufacture and install metal gutters and leaf filters. At Complete Exteriors, we will assist you with insurance claims to ensure you get the most value for your claims.

Andrew Robertson

2023-10-17

Complete Exteriors did an amazing job. They are super professional, on time, and the quality is top notch. They found things that others had missed and worked with me the whole time. One of key takeaways for me is their service. To have a vendor not only do they job, but also inform and educate you through the whole process is amazing. Damien was on site the entire day during the build, constantly updating and working with his crews. He was even there the next day after the job to ensure all was good to do one last spot check. Even the general manager Eddie came out to ensure all was going right. Another aspect that was awesome is even when I was at work, I was getting a progress report with where they were at with job through today. Even when the materials were delivered, I got an update that showed all the matching lot numbers for every case of tiles. This was in no way a Lowes delivery weeks before the job. This was a managed direct delivery with all matching numbers. I will say, in a world where customer service is becoming less and less, Compete Exteriors is breaking the mold. Again, if you need a roof, give them a call. I feel 100% confident I have a roof for MANY years to come.

Doug S

Complete Exteriors recently replaced my roof due to hail damage. I was very impressed with the professionalism and quality of the job. As proven by the finished product, they had a skilled team performing the roofing ( and wood replacement where needed. ). They even cleaned up the walkways in the attic. Joe, Damien, and Greg all checked in personally throughout the day to ensure the job was going according to my standards. I would definitely recommend them for any restoration or roof work.

Rob Davis

2023-09-15

I'd like to compliment Josh Wilson with complete exteriors. Josh handled all the handyman issues that needed to be done after the roof was installed. He took care of everything in a prompt and quality maner.

Court S

2023-09-07

Braxton is GREAT!!!! Quick and professional!!!

Tony Gomillion

2023-08-31

Holden and Damien were awesome to work with and the job turned out great! We will highly recommend them to everyone that needs good quality work done.

M D

2023-08-30

Damien was my roofer and is excellent and very professional. My experience with Holden overseeing this whole project has always been thorough. I’ve never had a problem with this company at all. I highly recommend!

Kreig Bell

2023-08-28

Complete Exteriors has got to be the most organized, thorough, and efficient roofing contractor any where around. From the initial inspection with an insurance adjuster to installation, I never had to repeat myself nor ask the same questions until I got an answer. The left hand knew what the right hand was doing all through the process and I never had to worry about them following through with what we discussed in the planning stage. They handled all the paper work with the insurance company once I filed the claim. I highly recommend Complete Exteriors to service your roofing, gutter, and siding needs!

Donald Ball

2023-08-11

Great Company and staff. They did a great job with our roof replacement. Damien Pierre kept us aware about everything that was going on. He did a great job managing the process. I was really impressed with that young man.

Justin Kuykendall

2023-08-05

I'd like to thank the Gutter installers from Complete Exteriors Roofing & Gutters for doing an outstanding install today, totally changed the look on the front of the house, appreciate the advice on going with the copper penny gutter, it has the look of expensive copper install but without the cost or tarnishing over the years. Professional, friendly, and timely, will definitely be looking at other services they offer.