The most obvious answer would be “when my roof leaks.” Well, as logical as that seems, it could have a major effect on your wallet. When a roof leaks, it begins to immediately affect the roof decking, then possibly the rafters and insulation, and then, finally, your ceiling. Sometimes a leak is discovered within a day or two of its beginning. But too often, a leak isn’t found until it has caused extensive damage. The end result is a repair bill from a roofer, a carpenter, a sheet rock hanger and a painter. Then, there is the possible damage to personal property.
So to answer the question, “When do you need a new roof?”, we consider the weather conditions. On the Gulf Coast, with the varying weather conditions that exist, a typical 20-year shingle roof will give you about 15 years of good service. There are some visual signs of a worn roof that tell you it’s nearing time for replacement. The most obvious is curled shingles. This begins typically around the 12th year. This is seen as the corners of the shingles begin to warp or curl, allowing debris such as leaves, acorns and small limbs to wedge under them. This makes the area under the shingle very accessible to blowing rain.
