In an ideal world, roofs would last forever, in reality they need to be cared for and repaired accordingly. The best time of the year to replace your roof is not the winter, in fact, it is any season but the winter. Cold weather can cause materials to harden, making them brittle and likely to crack. The best time to replace a roof is in spring and the summer, it provides better working conditions and is a quieter period for roof repairs.
However, roofs do not wait for the ideal season to deteriorate and require repairs. In this guide, we at the Roofing Company Bristol, will help you understand the signs you need to be looking out for this season to know if your roof needs replacing.
Needing a roof replacement is hard to predict, out that you need a roof replacement can be a hard task that we are not always prepared for. The most common season for home improvements in the UK is the summer. Unfortunately, roof repair and replacement does not clock off in the winter.
What are the Signs Your Roof Needs Replacing
Missing or Damaged roof tiles
One of the most common signs of wear and tear on a roof, missing damaged or curling tiles, is a visible indicator that your roof needs some attention. Roof tile damage occurs due to weather – hail and storms especially.
At Roofing Company Bristol, we recommend homeowners check their property’s roof after serious heavy winds and hail. Look for missing or damaged roof tiles that have recently occurred, as these may be a sign that your roof needs repair
You can see daylight through your roof
Imagine this, you are doing the season’s routine roof inspection for your home. You go into your attic and are able to see daylight through the boards in your roof. This should ring alarm bells for you, as this if proof your home has some serious structural damage.
Structural damage to your roof, such as this, will compromise the heat and the energy efficiency of a property. This deterioration happens because of structural issue’s if roof boards weaken due to age, or they are exposed to a lot of excess moisture, then they will break down and let light through.
Your Roof is Leaking Water
When a roof needs repair because of a leak, it is not as apparent as seeing a drip come from the ceiling. Instead, you may have noticed water stains on ceilings or walls, which indicate that there is a leak in your roof. Water entering a property via the roof can happen as a result of aged or damaged materials, like cracked tiles or a worn away flashing.
In the winter and autumn months, there is considerably more heavy rain than in other Seasons. If you discover water stains on your ceiling after a bout of heavy rain, talk to a professional roof as soon as possible. They can review the damage and assess it in order to repair the roof, and stopping the other problems from occurring.
Your Roof Has Started Sagging
A sagging roof indicates a serious structural problem that warrants immediate attention and repair. Usually, this happens as a result of heavy snowfall. The weight of the snow sitting on the roof for a long period of time can cause the structure to fall and sag.
If you notice your roof sagging under the weight of snow or saggy and general, this is a serious situation that can potentially turn into a dangerous one. A sagging roof compromises the safety of people inside a property. In order to avoid a roof collapse during winter, we would advise for a sagging roof to be looked at by a professional immediately.
Your Roof has Damage to Flashing and Seals
A flashing is used to still gaps or joints in a roof, they are placed around chimney skylights and vents, as well as along the roof’s edge. Seals are used for pipes and plumbing stacks. Seals deteriorate as a result of sun exposure, temperature and age. Flashings are damage as a result of extreme weather, poor installation or general wear.
If any of the seals in your roofing system are damaged or were not properly installed, it can allow water to enter your home. Over time, due to wear and tear, flashings and seals can degrade. Especially around the chimneys and vents in your roofing system.
If you think the flashings or seals on your roof are damaged, enquire with a team of roof specialists. They can reseal gaps, replace damaged flashing and apply sealant on your roof where it is needed. We suggest addressing repair and maintenance issues as soon as possible before they lead to structural damage that will have a considerably larger price to pay for repair.
Your roof is getting old
The lifespan of your roof depends on the materials used to create it and the level of care it has received throughout its life. If you have just moved into a home, or you are unsure of the history of your roof’s care, it can be hard to determine this. However, getting a roofing professional to survey the roof will help you to understand what age your roof is that and if it requires any immediate attention.
For example, tile roofs last anywhere from 50 to 100 years. Newer houses, like the ones in new build estates, come with asphalt tiles, particularly the three tab variety, in an ideal world these last 10 to 20 years. Whereas premium asphalt tiles have a lifespan about 20 to 30 years. Metal panels last anywhere from 25 to 40 years, clay tiles have a remarkable lifespan of 50 to 100 years. We have made a table to help you understand the lifespans of different types of roofing materials.
Roofs if installed correctly, as this table suggests, do not need to be replaced regularly. In an ideal world, they out last homeowners’ life. But do not take these as exact figures, they are estimates.
Speak to our team of roofing experts
In order to secure a long-lasting roof, we recommend regular maintenance a couple of times a year in order to keep it in the best shape possible. This will keep your roof strong, to make it last as long as possible. It is important to remember that the life of your roof is not just determined by the material choice, by the quality of installation and the care you provide after it has been installed.
If you are looking for a roof replacement within the Bristol area, choose the Roofing Company Bristol. Speak to a member of the team on 0117 950 2610 get your free estimate booked in today!
