A roof replacement isn’t cheap. As a result, many people put off replacing their roof until it is absolutely necessary. Of course, you don’t want to wait too long to replace a roof – the damage to your home could be huge if your roof collapses or lets in too much water. Below are a few tips for identifying exactly when to replace your roof.
Your roof has exceeded its life expectancy
Different roofing materials each have different life expectancies. It’s worth considering the type of material on your roof, when it was installed and whether it has exceeded its life expectancy.
Some of the life expectancies for different types of roofs include:
- Asphalt: 15 to 25 years
- Timber: 30 to 40 years
- Rubber: 40 to 50 years
- Metal: 40 to 70 years
- Clay: 50 to 100 years
- Slate: 75 to 200 years
It is possible to extend the life through regular cleaning and maintenance. If you’ve been actively maintaining your roof and it’s past its life expectancy but there are no visible issues with it, you may want to wait and get a few more years out of it. The best option is to hire a surveyor to examine the condition of your roof as there could be hidden damage.
Your roof is an unsuitable material
It could be time to replace your home’s roof if it’s not the right material for your home’s environment or if it simply doesn’t match the rest of the building.
A good example is having a wood roof in a location that is prone to heatwaves and wildfires. Wood roofs trap heat in, making them generally better for cooler climates, and are fairly flammable. A metal roof could provide more cooling in the summer and is likely to be more fireproof.
Of course, the material needs to match the rest of the building. This is important from a practical perspective – a flimsy old wooden outbuilding is unlikely to be able to support a heavy stone roof. It could also be important from an aesthetic point of view. Consider choosing a uniform material as is the case with these metal Butler buildings, or do your research into which materials match.
Your roof is sagging
A sagging roof typically occurs when the bracing or rafters can not adequately support the weight of the roof. It usually requires immediate full replacement of the braces/rafter or full replacement of the roof to stop it from collapsing.
If the roof is still in good condition but the rafters or bracing seem weak, then you should look into replacing the braces and rafters. If the roof is in bad condition but the bracing or rafters are still in pretty good condition, focus on replacing the roof itself. If both are damaged, then both may need replacing. A roofing surveyor may be able to tell you the best option.
Your roof has many visible signs of damage
If your roof is visibly worn all over, this is a clear sign that a replacement is needed. At this point it is likely to be uneconomical to repair – if you keep having to replace individual shingles or seal up cracks, it could come to a point when the overall cost of repairs becomes much greater than if you’d invested in a new roof.
Go up onto your roof or hire a professional to do so in order to expect the damage. If at a glance there seems to be a lot of damage, it’s usually worth replacing. In some cases, you may be able to see the extent of the damage from the ground or from inside your attic.
You keep getting leaks through your roof
A single leak may be worth patching up with a repair. Multiple leaks may not be worth the cost of individual repairs and you may find that you’re better off replacing the entire roof.
Get your roof inspected to see where the leaks are coming from. If there are multiple sources, it’s usually a good sign your roof needs replacing. Similarly, if you’ve already had your roof repaired in the past because of leaks and another one has occurred, it may be a good sign that a roof replacement is due – letting leaks continue to occur could just increase the amount of water damage to the rest of your home, as well as racking up costs in repairs.