Your roof serves an important purpose. It protects your home from the elements and contributes to its overall appearance. Therefore, missing tiles and damage can make your home appear tired and unkempt. However, it’s not just aesthetics you should be concerned about. Roof damage can cause serious structural damage to your home. To help you avoid this, we’ve put together a guide to spotting when a new roof installation will be necessary.
Rotting, Moss & Mildew
You’ll probably need to use a ladder to inspect your roof properly for rot, moss and mildew. If an excessive amount of moss and mould grows around the tiles, they can be forced apart. This leaves a gap that allows water in, resulting in moisture damage to your home. If moss and mildew are causing issues across extensive sections of your roof, or if the timber is rotting as a result of water damage, you’ll need a new roof installation.
Cracks & Holes
Sometimes you can spot cracks, gaps and holes in your roof from the ground below. However, smaller gaps can be difficult to see. If these are left, moisture can be let into your home. This will cause structural damage over time, and can lead to the timber rotting. Once the timber rots or the moisture damage covers a large area, you’ll need to get a new roof installation.
To ensure you don’t miss any small cracks, you should make a habit of inspecting your roof for holes. The best time to do this is in the evenings, when it’s dark inside but still a little light outside. Go to the point of your home that’s directly under the roof – this could be a living area, or the attic space. Turn off the lights in your home and look up. Do you see any light coming through? If you do, it’s time to schedule an inspection with a roofing contractor.
Sagging
If you notice a big dip in your roof, this is almost certainly sagging, which indicates structural damage. Sagging usually occurs when moisture is let in. This results in the materials weakening, which then leads to an uneven appearance. You need to address this quickly, as the weight of the moisture can cause your roof to collapse. If the damaged area is large, you’ll need a new roof installation. Occasionally, when sagging is isolated to one, smaller area, you may be able to get away with replacing only that section.
To prevent sagging from occurring, you should ensure that your gutters are regularly cleaned. This allows rainwater to run off the roof and be drained properly.
It’s Time For A New Roof Installation
Roofs have an average lifespan of around 20 years. Some can last longer, and some may need replacing sooner. This can depend on many factors, including maintenance, weather conditions, the materials the roof is made of and how it was built. You’ll need to budget for a new roof installation every 20 years or so. However, if you don’t know when the roof was last replaced, it’s worth getting a professional in for a roof health check. They’ll be able to inspect your property and suggest how many years your current roof will last before it needs replacing.
If You Need To Schedule A New Roof Installation, Choose LMH Roofing
Our team have years of experience working with all types of roofs. If you need a new roof installation, give us a call today. We’d be happy to help.
