When should I replace my roof?
Signs of Wear and Tear: A good indicator of when you should replace your roof is obvious damage. Severe granular loss, shingle deterioration, loss of shingles, etc. All these are examples of things you might see as you reach the end of the shingle's life. As far as a metal roof you might see rust forming or the paint is starting to wear or peel off. Finally, with flat rooms being EPDM or TPO you will either see tears in the rubber, peeling, or a look of brittleness to the rubber.
Age of the Roof: No roof is going to last forever so you need to consider how old the roof is. Shingles typically will last 15-20 years, Metal will last roughly 30, and TPO and EPDM will last anywhere from 20-40 years. All these numbers do vary depending on how much exposure to sunlight and the amount of temperature change they see.
Leaks and Water Damage: The roof of your house is as important as the bones and foundation. Without a damage-free and good healthy roof you are putting your family and your belongings at risk of damage. If you see water stains on the ceilings or down the side of the wall contact a trusted roofing contractor.
Weather Damage: Weather damage is no stranger to us here in the Midwest. With the crazy hail storms we have had this year and the strong winds that are far too common here in North Dakota. Weather damage is something that can be very noticeable or pretty discrete. With wind damage, you will oftentimes see shingles completely missing or starting to come off. This opens a very large area where water can enter the roof. Another form would be hail. This form of damage can be pretty hard to see unless you know what you are looking for, it also can be very noticeable if the hail is big enough. Often you will see indents where the hail hit and granular loss in those areas or it could be as severe as a hole in the roof. Finally, the last type of weather damage I would like to touch on is ice. During the long harsh winter months up here we can oftentimes deal with ice damming in the valleys or low-sloping roofs. The water will melt and if it's not running off fast enough it freezes and it can build up and push against the shingles that are above it opening a weak point. Ice damming can also tear shingles and completely ruin the integrity of that area.
Energy Efficiency and Safety when it comes to ventilation: One of the most common issues we see when it comes to older roofs is that the previous contractor didn’t have proper or adequate ventilation. This will not allow your attic space to breathe properly and that can damage or affect the current insulation. Thus leading to higher energy costs. It also can become a safety concern due to the high temps that can be reached if not properly ventilated. One other concern is that it provides a high risk for mold to grow due to condensation during the major temperature changes we see. If you feel that you don’t have proper ventilation give the Vita Crew a call and we would be happy to help you and inform you if it is or what options we have to fix it.
Always remember, The Vita Crew is here for, YOU!
