by Ed English

Created on: January 06, 2010

How can I tell if my home needs a new roof?

There are several things you can look at to see if you need a new roof. Usually it's not one thing but a combination of things that tells you it's time for a new roof. Water entering the house is an obvious indicator but often roofs will leak small amounts of water that don't enter the living area. Having just enough water entering to wet the insulation or soak into the decking but not enough to soak through the ceiling into the living area is common.

The first thing to do is make an inspection of the underside of the roof by going up into the attic. Carry a bright light if one is not already installed. Look for rotten or discolored wood or even moisture in the attic. A moldy smell is also a giveaway that leaks may have started. Inspect all of the wood decking but focus primarily on the locations that require holes in the roof. There are usually several pipes or vents exiting the roof. Chimney locations are also prone to allow leaks around them if not maintained or installed properly. These are typically the first places that leak on the roof. Look at the wood around the holes where the pipes exit the roof. If it's discolored or rotten it needs some attention. Use an awl to poke the wood if you're not sure if it's rotten or not. Small leaks are common and may be repaired without replacing the entire roof. Large leaks may or may not indicate the need for the complete roof replacement. Take note of all areas that appear to have leaks. Depending on how long the leaks have existed the roof may not be safe to walk on.

Go up on the roof and walk around. Remember the discolored areas you noticed in the attic and be sure the decking will support your weight before you step on it. Test any questionable areas by shifting your weight a little at a time to be sure you have solid footing. Do not place all of your weight on suspicious areas of decking without testing first. It's common for roofs to look solid but actually be very dangerous and have rotten decking concealed underneath the shingles. If rotten decking is found it must be replaced along with the shingles. Look closely at the shingles themselves. Edges that are loose, broken, brittle, puckered up or peeling indicate the shingles need to be replaced. Large amounts of shingles in need of repair tell you it's time for a new roof. Even if the roof is not leaking it is on the verge of starting to leak.

Asphalt shingles usually last as long as the warranty states. Warranties vary from twenty to forty years. If you know the brand and when your shingles were installed you know the time to replace the roof. Of course metal and clay roofs are another story.

Learn more about this author, Ed English.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.