Roofs are one of the most essential components of a house, aren’t they? Roofs keep the house (as well as the family inside) protected from all sorts of weather conditions. They’re designed and manufactured in such a way that they can easily withstand the UV rays of the blazing sun, as well as heavy rainfall, snowfall, thunderstorms, hailstorms, and many other weather conditions. The efficiency of the roof is extremely high when it is newly installed; With time, however, roof efficiency starts decreasing. If you keep the roof well-maintained and regularly inspected, you should be able to extend its service life.
Roofs don’t last forever. So what are some signs that indicate that you need to get your roof replaced? Here are some…
#1 The Age Of The Roof Is Over 20-Years-Old
Usually, the average service life of a roof is around 20 to 25 years. Beyond this age, the efficiency of the roof is reduced. Shingles as well as underlayment of the roof can suffer from a lot of damage as roofs age. After 20 to 25 years, it’s time to consider roof replacement.
#2 Numerous Shingles Are Missing From The Roof
Generally, during thunderstorms or hailstorms, shingles from the rooftop get blown off. Hopefully it is just two or three; You can easily replace these shingles with new ones and repair the damages. But when you observe that almost 60 to 70 percent of the roof is missing shingles, this is a sign that you need to replace the roof. Due to a large number of missing shingles, the underlying framework of the roof gets exposed to the harsh climate and easily gets damaged.
#3 Uncontrolled Water Leak Issue(s)
Water leak issues are quite common during heavy rainfall or snowfall. You might see small stains of water on the ceiling of the attic or on the walls. When you actually observe water dripping consistently from the ceiling and walls, it shows that the water leak issue is major. Such water leaks take place when there is a huge crack in the roof which is beyond repair. In such a situation, get the roof replaced.
#4 The Roof Has Mold/Mildew All Over The Surface
The growth of mold and mildew takes place on the surface of the roof when water or excessive moisture gets trapped inside the roof. The moist area is very suitable for the growth of mold and mildew. When you observe that the entire area of the roof surface is covered with moss, mold, and mildew, it means that a large amount of water is absorbed by the roof underlayment, and things have rotted from within. When the underlayment is damaged you cannot repair it. It has to be replaced; If you’re delaying the replacement, the entire roof could collapse along with the underlayment roof framework. Yikes!
Summary
Roofs are generally designed to be very strong, but at a certain point in time, when their efficiency has decreased and the damage caused to them is beyond repair, you must get them replaced. The roofing professionals at SMC Construction can inspect, repair or replace your Minneapolis-St. Paul area roof. Call 763-300-5519 for info.