Common Symptoms of a Roof in Need of Replacement In Ohio

Have you wondered whether you need a new roof, but you’re unsure about how far you’re currently willing to go when it comes to repairing or upgrading your current roof? Having your Columbus home’s roof replaced could be one of the most expensive repairs you will ever need to manage as a homeowner, so it’s vital to weigh this decision carefully before committing to the expense. You should not only know how to determine whether you need a roof repair or a full replacement but also your options when it comes to putting an entirely new roof on your home.

Consider the following checklist of potential symptoms of a roof in need of replacement. It’s always best to consult with a professional roofer for an inspection. You should have an idea of what they will be looking for to determine the safety and quality of your current roof.

Identifying Water Damage

One of the things that can quickly damage a roof beyond repair is unchecked water damage. A professional roofer will want to check your attic or upper crawlspace’s interior as one of the first parts of a roof inspection. Water damage may happen gradually if your roof has a small leak, and it’s unfortunately easy to allow these issues to escalate into expensive problems before too long.

It’s best to check the roof’s interior on a sunny day so that sunlight will show through any cracks or holes in the roof. These are prime locations for water damage to appear, causing roof bed panels to rot and warp and potentially even damaging the supporting structure of the roof. Water can also enter a damaged roof and drip down the walls, including the home’s interior walls.

Your roofer will also look at the ceilings and walls throughout your home if a leak is discovered in your roof. It’s vital to assess water damage as soon as possible before it has a chance to encourage mold growth or deteriorate vital structures within a home.

Exterior Roof Inspection

A professional roofer will also need to inspect the outside of your roof to determine whether you need a repair or two or a complete replacement. When it comes to asphalt shingle roofs, older shingles will crack, chip, and weather over time. Eventually, they will start breaking off of the surface of the roof. Your roofer will check your gutter for shingle granules and inspect the quality of the shingles still attached to your roof. If you have any spots where the shingles have completely broken loose, these areas are especially vulnerable to serious water damage.

Your Ohio exterior roof inspection must also include a close check of the flashings, fixtures, vents, and other protrusions on your roof. All of these areas are also prime locations for water damage to appear, so your roofer should inspect them carefully to determine how well you can expect them to hold up for the foreseeable future.

Consider Your Utility Expenses

Your home’s roof plays a major role in your Columbus home’s overall comfort level, from ventilation to insulation. If your roof needs replacement, it probably is not doing a very good job of keeping your home well-protected from the elements. Look over your utility bills over the last few years if you can; does it seem like you’ve been spending more and more to keep your house comfortable lately? This could be an indication that your roof is allowing cool air to escape during the summer and/or warm air to escape during the winter. In both cases, your home’s heating and cooling systems are going to work much harder than they should to account for your roof’s poor insulation.

Over time, a roof in need of replacement will lead to more expensive monthly utility bills and increase the risk of an equipment failure in your heating or cooling appliances. After reviewing your monthly utility bills for the past several years, you might realize that a new roof could potentially save you quite a bit of money during the years ahead.

Your Roof Replacement Checklist

Weighing the decision between a roof repair and a roof replacement is an important one. If you notice one or more of the following issues with your roof, a professional roofer will likely recommend a complete roof replacement rather than a repair:

• Visible water damage to the roof bed and the supporting structures of the roof.
• The presence of mold in any of the wooden roof structures.
• Shingles missing in several places across the surface of the roof.
• Shingle deterioration over most of the roof’s surface.
• Sunken areas on the surface of the roof.
• Severely damaged roof flashings, fixtures, and/or protrusions.

This list is not exhaustive. There are many other potential roof problems you could encounter that should prompt you to seek a roof replacement sooner rather than later.

What to Expect from Roof Replacement

If your professional roof inspection in Ohio reveals several significant issues with your roof, it’s time to consider replacing the entire roof. Traditional asphalt roofs typically last between 20 and 30 years, and they experience occasional maintenance issues that can be fixed throughout their lifespans. When it comes time to replace your roof, it’s important to consider the benefits of upgrading to a new metal roof.

A new asphalt shingle roof will last around 25 years or so, but a new metal roof could last 75 years or longer. Installing a metal roof is generally a bit more expensive than installing an asphalt shingle roof. The difference in cost is negligible when you consider the difference in the two roofs’ lifespans. Even if installing an asphalt shingle roof is half the cost of a metal roof, it may only be one fourth as long as the metal roof would last, ultimately costing more to repeatedly replace in the long run.

A new metal roof can provide better durability, better insulation, and ultimately greater savings with a significantly longer lifespan than even the best asphalt shingle roofs. If you are considering roof replacement, be sure to work with a reputable roofing team with solid experience in metal roof installation.