How to Know When It’s Time to Replace Your Shake Roof

How often do you really take the time to inspect your roof? If you are like most individuals, you probably never look at your roof at all. You are busy running the kids to school, going to work, bringing in groceries from the vehicle and so on. You probably only glance at the roof on a rare occasion as you are backing up and out of your driveway.

By taking the time to inspect your roof on a regular basis, you can address any little issues that arise. When you make these tiny repairs right away, it will help to prevent something major from happening down the line. You don’t want a bunch of rain or snow falling down on you because of your own negligence. In the event you ever do decide to sell your home, a solid roof can go a long way.

One of the best places you can start looking for signs of damage to your roof is inside of the home. Look for these four common signs of roof damage.

Leaking or Water Damage in the Home

If you look toward the ceiling, do you notice a bunch of water spots on your ceiling? You should never see water spots running along where your roof is. If you do, that is often a sign that water got in through the roof and is making its way down into your home. Water shouldn’t leak through a roof when it is in good condition.

Trails or Dark Spots

Similar to water damage, a trail of water along your ceiling or walls is often an indication of something going on with your roof that needs to be addressed. Dark spots could also signify the formation of mold growing in your ceiling.

Light Showing Through Your Roof

When you look up, you shouldn’t be able to see the light from the sun shining through your roof. Your roof is meant to be a sound and sturdy structure, not one that makes its own skylight. If you notice light shining through your ceiling, you have a hole somewhere that needs to be patched up quickly.

When outside of your home, look for any torn or missing shingles on your roof. Check around the chimneys, pipes and various other areas of penetration. Cedar roofing that needs repair will often end up falling apart or splitting when in a drier climate. In a moist climate, your roof will end up covered in moss. On average, you can expect your roof to last about 20 years. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have your roof inspected on a regular basis by a roofing professional.

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