Your roof is getting old, but you figure you'll wait until spring to replace it. Does this situation sound familiar? If you find yourself in this mindset, it is important to take a closer look and make sure your roof truly can last until the spring. Here are some signs that your aging roof really should be replaced sooner — before the snow falls.
You have actual patches of missing shingles.
A few missing shingles here and there are one thing. Your roof might be able to survive the winter if there are not any other serious issues. Big patches of missing shingles are another matter. With a lot of shingles missing in one spot, there's a much greater likelihood of a leak developing. It's also really easy for water to work its way under the neighboring shingles when there are a bunch of shingles missing — and in the winter, you have to worry about that water freezing and expanding into ice, peeling even more shingles off with it. Big patches of shingles mean your roof should be replaced this fall, not next spring.
There are drops of moisture in the attic.
At first, you might figure a couple of drops of water here and there are not a big deal. But here's the thing: if there are a few drops of moisture now, there will be much bigger drops (or pools) of moisture once the snow starts falling. Snow melts, to some degree, on most roofs, and all of that moisture will slowly trickle into your attic. If you wait until spring to have the roof replaced, you will also have to spend money repairing water damage. You'll spend less, altogether, if you just replace the roof right now.
The shingles are lifting along the edge of the roof.
Another major problem to look for is lifted shingles along the edge of the roof. This problem is usually the result of snow melting, dripping, and re-freezing along the roof's edge. If the shingles are already peeling, they may be gone completely after another winter, and once they're gone, you'll have a lot of water leaking in and causing damage.
Sometimes roofs can pull through one more winter before they need to be replaced. Other times, the need for replacement is imminent. If you are still unsure whether your roof can wait through the winter, have a roofing company come take a look and offer a professional opinion.
To learn more, contact a roofer.
