A quality roof is important for maintaining a home’s overall structure and soundness. However, regular maintenance helps retain the value and visual appeal of your home. Some warning signs of an aging roof are easily overlooked.
Age
Most roofs have a 20- to 25-year lifespan. If your roof is older, there is a good chance it needs to be replaced. This is especially true if your current aging roof was installed on top of another, older one. Of course, sometimes roofs need to be replaced before this time frame. Severe weather, including both chronic weather patterns and short but damaging storms, take a toll over time.
Roof Valleys
Roof valleys are dips that occur between the different angles of a roof. Valleys are very important for a roof’s construction, as water is carried through the valleys to the gutters. If you notice shingles coming loose or falling off around your valleys, you will need repair. Otherwise, water can seep through the cracks and into your attic.
Shingles
Asphalt shingles that are missing, cracked or loose can also signal a failing roof. Curled edges and dark areas are also signs of damage. Shingle damage may be hard to see from the ground. The safest way to assess hard to reach parts of the roof is by hiring a professional for an inspection.
Shingle Granules
When you notice smooth, dark areas in your shingles, this means the protective granules have come off the shingles, creating roof damage. You can often spot these granules in the rain gutters, and the older the roof is, the more these granules will pile up.
Chimney Flashing
Step inside your attic on a sunny day, and check under the chimney. Be sure to turn off the lights, and look at the stack vent as well. Little spots of light are evidence that the flashing is no longer working properly. While you’re there, take a look at the underside of the roof itself, and check for any light coming through. Also, check for water staining and areas that are soft or moist.
A happy, healthy roof protects a house’s interior and can increase the lifespan of your home. Maryland homeowners trust Severna Park-based Landmark Roofing with roofing needs big or small. Give our team a call at 443-292-5242.
Contact Us
After starting his first business at age 26, Artie Hendricks partnered with his best friend Rob Calhan and they have assembled a team of skilled and conscientious friends to be the core of Landmark Roofing. He largely credits his father’s strong and consistent work ethic and his father’s best friend Jerry, who owns a construction company and trained him through his first building experiences. Artie has since advanced through degrees in architecture, auto-CAD and construction management to build a business that prides itself on the care it shows for its work and its customers’ satisfaction.
