Did you notice a few leaks on your ceiling recently? Are you wondering if a few fixes is enough to get it back in shape? Or are you worried that the damage on your roof is going to necessitate a complete replacement? A roof replacement is a lot of work and it costs a lot of money too; and for that kind of money, of course, you want to make sure that your roof really badly needs a replacement before spending that hard-earned cash but the problem is, how would you know?

The first step that you should take is to probe and do an inspection of your roof. If you’re still confused on what exactly you should check, you can use this short checklist we’ve prepared so you know what warning signs you should be looking out for.

• Water Damage

You can begin your inspection by checking your attic. If you’ve noticed significant water stains, sagging spots or leaks on your attic’s ceiling, then that is a strong indication that you might be suffering from serious roof damage. Try to lightly poke and feel the sagging areas and if they’re too weak and soft, then that’s a major concern for you.

However, if you don’t appear to have any, another way that you can check is to inspect whether there’s sunlight coming through the roof boards. One more thing to note is to see if there’s excessive moisture in your attic or in your insulation. If there is, you’ll probably catch some spots of mold which in that case meant that the problem is accelerating quite quickly.

• Missing Granules

Did you see bald spots or varying shades on your roof? Those are because you are losing shingle granules. They naturally get knocked off over the course of time but losing them would allow the UV rays to cause further damage on your roof. Missing granules can be due to a hail storm or it could also be a sign that your roof is nearing its life cycle. Perhaps try to recall or at least figure out the last time you had your roof installed. Was it 20 or 25 years ago? If it is, then it’s probably you get a fresh new cover.

• Cupped Shingle Edges

Buckling or cupped shingle edges are another symptom of a severe leakage which essentially calls for a roof replacement because otherwise, if it’s neglected and left untreated, it could compromise the structural integrity of your home. But apart from water damage, it could also be an indication that the roof is old and it’s way past its life cycle  or it just wasn’t installed properly. Either way, as soon as you notice the edges of your shingles curling, you better call a seasoned roofing company to replace it for you before it affects other structural areas of your house.

• Cracking

It’s normal for a few shingles to crack over years of wear and tear. If the cracking was only confined to a few pieces then you can simply have it repaired by replacing the damaged shingles. However, if the cracks are spread throughout your roof then the most viable solution to that is to just replace the whole thing.

• Old Age

Unless your roof has been critically damaged by a hail storm, a tornado or a hurricane, you can expect your roof to last you a good 25 to 30 years. Nonetheless, even if your old roof isn’t showing substantial deterioration on the outside, that doesn’t mean it’s still in its best shape to shelter you for another ten years. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so if you’re aware that it has reached the end of its life, just replace it even if you feel like it can still keep up for a few more years. Anyway, you’re not sure what’s going to happen next so keep your family and your home protected by installing a new one than trying to salvage what’s left.