Do you need a new roof? How would you know? Barring severe and obvious damage, it’s possible for homeowners not to know when their roof has reached a point where replacement is inevitable. After all, it’s not something that you have to replace that often, and you may not be regularly looking closely enough at it to evaluate it, either. You may not even know how old the roof is if it was installed before you bought your home. But it’s an important thing to keep an eye on. You don’t want to hang onto an old roof until it finally gives in completely. The chances of interior damage and water damage increase the longer you wait. Take a look at some of the key signs that your roof has seen better days and needs to be replaced now.

Your Roof is Missing Shingles

One big signal that you need a new roof is if you’re missing too many pieces of the old one. While you can replace lost shingles if there aren’t many and the ones surrounding the missing shingles are in good condition, large empty patches of the roof are a problem, as is buckling, cracking, and other damage to the shingles that are nearest the missing one.

While you’re at it, check your gutter system to see if you can find debris from shingles inside the gutters or exiting the downspouts. Sometimes, when shingles are approaching the end of their usefulness, they begin to disintegrate, and this debris will be washed into the gutter system. When you see that, it’s definitely time to call in the roofing professionals.

Your Roofline Sags

A saggy roof is a sign of serious problems that need to be addressed quickly.

Your roof, as well as your gutter system, should have straight lines that hold strong. Sagging can indicate an issue with the framing or that the roof deck is saturated, and that’s a big problem. In some cases, it can lead to a full or partial roof cave-in.

Even without a cave-in, a sagging roof that goes unaddressed will only get worse. If the roof sags, the gutters will too, which means they won’t function as effectively either. If the gutters don’t drain properly, your roof can become even more waterlogged, and other parts of your home will be susceptible to water damage as well.

Your Roof Leaks

If you’re not in the habit of looking closely at your roof, you might overlook missing shingles or sagging, at least for a while, but you would think something like a roof leak would be immediately noticeable. However, that’s not always true.

A leaky roof will let water into the home, but not necessarily into a place that you’d notice right away. If you have an attic or upstairs room that you rarely use, you might miss water leaking into those areas. Occasionally, a leak could simply form in a space where the water is difficult to notice – if the ceiling over the couch is dripping water, you’ll probably know it, but what about the section of the ceiling over the space behind a large appliance or over your utility room? It’s important to look for water stains, musty smells, ceiling stains, and other signs of water leaks all over the house.

Your Cooling Bills Are Too High

Replacing a roof may be expensive, but so are energy costs, and yours may seem out of control during the hottest parts of the year if your roof needs to be replaced. If your roof is damaged, and especially if there are leaks somewhere that you haven’t discovered, your roof won’t be effective at keeping cool air inside. Your air conditioner will need to work harder and run longer to maintain a temperature that you’re comfortable with inside the house, and that adds up to increased energy costs.

Keep in mind that the older your roof is, the less likely it is that it’s as energy efficient as it could be. Even if you haven’t noticed skyrocketing costs but know it’s time to replace your roof for other reasons, or just because you know how old it is, you may be surprised to discover that a new roof results in lower energy bills than you expect. New insulation, a radiant barrier, improved attic ventilation, and even shingle color can all save you money on your energy bill. A new roof is a good long-term investment for your home.

You Know You’re Going to Sell

A new roof can be a major selling point if you plan to put your home on the market. 

You may not be planning to move today, but if you know a move is somewhere in the near future and you know your roof has problems or has lapsed out of warranty, installing a new roof is a smart decision. Not only will it help you sell your home faster when you’re ready – many buyers will jump at the chance to luck into a home with a roof they know they won’t have to worry about for a while – but also, the return on investment you can get from a new roof is higher than that of many other roofing projects.

In fact, a new roof can even result in an  ROI that’s higher than the cost you paid for the roof, which means that you can actually profit from this home improvement. Additionally, getting the roof installed before the old roof deteriorates too seriously protects your home from leaks and water damage, which means you’ll have fewer things to fix before you sell the house and you’re less likely to have damage that lowers the home’s value.

Keep an eye out for signs that your roof needs to be replaced because it’s definitely one of those home issues that will cost you much more in the long run if you let it go for too long. If you’re thinking about a new roof, the professionals at Lednor Home Solutions are ready to help. Contact them to  schedule a free estimate.