General maintenance and upkeep of your roof is not a simple task, it involves inspecting your roof for signs of potential damage at least twice a year. In reality, many homeowners have never been up on their roof even once, let alone gone up several times a year to inspect the roof’s condition.  So how do you know when your roof needs to be replaced if you never inspect it from on top? We polled our roofers and they shared several potential warning signs you should pay close attention to. 

#1 Water damage

Watermarks on your top floor ceiling may be a sign that water is working its way into your home through your roof. Try and follow the potential water flow to see if the water is coming from a pipe or a window, or if it is coming from your roof. You may need to climb into your attic to see if there is damp areas or pooling of water. If you conclude the damage is being caused by water entering through your roof, don’t hesitate, contact a local rooferASAP. 

#2 Sun rays beaming into your attic

Unless you have a window in your attic, this part of your home should always be pitch dark. Climbing into your attic, to look for potential issues with your roofing system is important. One tell-tale sign that there is a major issue with your roof, is if you are able to see streams of light coming through your roof. If light can get in, so can water. Our experts say that the best time of day to look for this damage indicator is at sunset. 

#3 Sagging

A professionally installed roof should have a top that follows a straight line along the ridge. So, if you notice a sag anywhere in your roofline, it can represent an indicator of structural damage to your roof. To look for roof sag, cross to the opposite side of the street and look along any edges of your roof, from the peaks down. You should be able to notice any misalignment along what should be a straight edge. Any amount of sag can indicate a structural issue with your roof, and sewer sag can mean a potential roof collapse. Call a professional roofing contractor immediately if you notice any shifting in the shape of your roof.

#4 Age

An aging roof should be reason enough for any homeowner to consider a replacement. Overall, if your roof is around 20 years of age, it might be the right time to seek out a professional roofer to inspect the condition of your roof. 

#5 Neighbours replacing their roofs

Just because one of your neighbours is replacing their roof, it doesn’t mean anything was wrong. There are many reasons for homeowners to update their roof, aesthetic purposes is a popular one. However, if you notice a neighbour or a few of them replacing their roofs, and your homes were all built around the same time. You may want to walk over and ask them if they had any issues or if they noticed any early warning signs of issues. It is not unheard of for entire streets to have their roofs replaced around the same time, as the lifespans of a similar roof installation are all the same.

Make sure you pay close attention to the gutters, ridges, or any signs of rooting. Our professional roofers say that a damaged or aging roof will happen over time, and most homeowners overlook subtle early signs. This is why you should always have regularly scheduled checkups performed by an experienced roofing contractor. Spotting any potential issues early can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.