Calgary Roof Warning Signs
The rains have stopped and the trees are all green. The sun shines bright and in some homes, the roof has once again begun to leak, just like last year. It is time to take a considered decision. Whether or not to go in for a roof replacement? It’s a tough decision, both from the time as well from the budgetary point of view. You have contacted your Calgary roofer and he comes over for another round of inspection. His conclusion is still the same. He suggests that it is imperative for you to go in for a roof replacement and repair is not an option now as the small leaks which existed last year have become larges patches on the wall, and they might soon lead to structural damage to the house. You decide to go in for a second opinion. You try and contact another roofer and he also makes the same suggestion.
There is a time in every house’s lifetime when it requires a roof replacement. Depending upon the initial roofing for the house, the maintenance during the life of the roof and the external weather conditions, the roof requires repairs as well as replacement. There are certain tell tale signs which indicate that a roof requires replacement. They are as follows:
- Age of the roof. The normal life of a roof done in the past is approximately 17 years depending upon the maintenance and quality of shingles for the roof. After this time, there are regular cases of leaks and torn flashings reported in any roof.
- Missing or torn shingles. If the number of missing tiles and shingles in a house are huge, then its best to replace the roof, rather than going in for a repair.
- Condition of interior walls touching the roof. The condition of the walls touching the roof is a clear indication of the time required for the roof to be replaced. In case there is loss of paint, or moisture marks on the walls indicating the seepage of water, then its time for the roof to undergo major repairs.
- Extreme weather conditions have exposed a part of the house from the top and a situation has come where a minor patch will not help calls for a roof replacement. The major cause of accelerated roof deterioration is its exposure to repeated and prolonged snow, hail, rains, and direct sunlight. In places where any one or a combination of these is found, the life of a roof is small.
- Untreated pine shakes showing dark rot spots throughout the roof. These shakes were supposed to last 25 years, but in reality only last 10 – 14 years at the very most.
- If the tabs show severe curling, your roof may be vulnerable to shingle blow-offs, and water seepage.
- Severe wear and holes in valleys are the most critical area of concern since high water volumes travel in these areas.
