If you’re looking for a new home, you should know when it was built and what kind of renovations have been done. These are essential things to know because they will tell you whether the house is ready to move in or if it needs to be upgraded to enhance comfort and utility. For a variety of reasons, you should also consider finding out the exact age of your roofing system.
Start by inquiring about the age of the roof to learn more about a home’s history. This will give you an idea of when it was last updated by a roofing contractor, as well as further information about its current state. Shine Construction Inc. shares some insights.
Why Do You Need to Know How Old Your Roof Is?
You and your roofing contractor will benefit from knowing the age of your roof. Your roofers need to know this so they can come up with a plan to preserve or even extend your roof’s life span. Keep in mind that determining what your roof requires necessitates a thorough inspection. Knowing the age of your roof provides crucial information to your roofing contractor before they do any roofing work.
If you’re aware that your roof is nearing the end of its useful life, it’s time to start planning a roof replacement.
A dimensional asphalt shingle roof, for instance, has a 30-year life expectancy. It will reach quite near to that 30-year mark if the roof is properly installed and ventilated. You’ll know it’s time to replace your roof when it reaches 80-85% of its life span. That works out to about 25 years for a dimensional asphalt shingle roof.
How to Determine Your Roof’s Age
As a homeowner, knowing the age of your roof can help you make informed decisions about whether you should tackle roof replacement or repair. There are a few techniques to figure out how old your roof is if you don’t know.
- Find the local contractor who installed the roof.
This could be a time-consuming method of determining the roof’s age, but you never know. To find local roofers, use Google or the yellow pages once more. A few phone calls to some of the area’s most well-known roofers may generate results. Due to a lesser number of local roofers, you may have a better chance if you live in a rural location. You might be in business if they keep good records.
- Ask the previous owner.
The previous owner may also be a source of information when figuring out how old your roof is. If you keep in touch with them, they may be able to give you the documentation you need. They might also refer you to the original roofing contractor, who might be able to assist you with installation paperwork.
- Check to see if there is a building permit for the roof.
You should be able to acquire a date that the building permit was filed. This would be around the time the roof was installed. The roof replacement would necessitate the same permit like any other large home improvement project. A permit is not required in some states. This may be a dead end if you live in a state where a roof does not require a permit. Also, if the cost of the roof is less than a specific amount, the previous owners or contractors are not required to obtain a permit.
- Have your roof professionally inspected.
A roof repair professional can assess the type of roof, as well as areas of damage and wear, to determine the roof’s age. Signs of general wear and tear, as well as hidden damage caused by storm, wind or hail, are just a few of the things a roof professional will look for.
Assessing Visible Roof Damage to Estimate Age
If you’re not sure what to look for, you can only learn so much by performing a visual inspection of your roof. You don’t have to climb up the roof using a ladder; a pair of binoculars and a vantage point where you can see most of the roof surface will do. Here are a few pointers for analyzing obvious roof damage:
- Asphalt Shingles Granules – The granules on the surface of your asphalt shingles, or what’s left of them, can often tell you how old a roof is. These specks of crushed rock are embedded in the shingles to protect against the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Over time, however, the shingles dry out due to constant exposure to the elements, causing them to lose their granules. Excess granule loss should clue you in that your roof is nearing the end of its life span.
- Curled and Blistered Shingles – Curling and blistering shingles are also symptoms of an old roof. Both problems are frequently caused by a lack of asphalt on the shingle. Another reason to avoid using low-quality roofing materials for your new roof is to save money.
- Missing and Blown-off Shingles – Missing shingles could be an indicator of your roof’s age or the impact of severe weather. Nails and a seal strip are used to secure shingles to the roof. As your roof ages, the seal may deteriorate and the shingles may no longer be held in place efficiently.
While determining the precise age of a roof is difficult, you may get a good idea by searching for some of the characteristics listed above. Those symptoms may indicate the necessity for a roof repair in some circumstances.
For quality roof repair or replacement services, choose Shine Construction Inc. Our team ensures top-notch workmanship and quality products. We also specialize in other services like gutter cleaning and repair, siding installation and snow removal. Call us at (508) 278-3300 or fill out our contact form to get a free quote.
