When it comes time to replace the roof on your house, you will need to find a roofing contractor to work with who you are comfortable with. Your roofer will help you decide what material you want to use on the roof and then install them for you, but there are some things you should know before you start a roofing project.
When To Replace The Roof
The majority of houses in the United States use asphalt shingle roofing, and the life of those shingles can vary between twenty and thirty years. If you put the last roof on more than twenty years ago, you may want to look closely at the shingles to determine their condition.
Shingles that are dried out and cracking, rolling at the edges, or coming loose from the roof should be replaced. If you have some areas that look okay and others that don't, it is important to replace the entire roof, or you may be having to revisit the problem in a few years when the sections that were not replaced start to age and potentially leak.
Talk to your roofing contractor about the condition of the roof and have them inspect it for you. Any cracked or curling shingles will allow water to penetrate the roofing material, and eventually, the roof will begin to leak if it is not addressed.
Roof Leaks
If your roof develops a leak, water can run in under the shingles and damage the wood underneath. Over time, the water can cause the plywood to rot and it may need to be replaced. It is important to have a roofing contractor inspect the roof to determine where the water is coming in and how extensive the damage is.
Inspecting the roof from the underside in the attic or crawl space is a good way to check for water penetration and damage. If the underside of the plywood is wet and rotting, water is getting in under the shingles in that area.
Roof Repair Or Replacement
If the roof has been leaking long enough to cause damage to the structure, the roofer may be able to remove the section that is damaged and replace it, but if the roof is older, you may want to have them strip the entire roof and replace any damaged wood at the same time.
The roof could be leaking in other areas that you have not seen inside yet, but once the roof shingles are removed from the roof, the contractor will be able to tell if there are other areas that may have rot starting. After repairs are completed, the roofers can install new shingles with a warranty and you may never need to worry about the roof again. Reach out to a roofing contractor to get started.
