The recent hail storms in the Twin Cities metro, including some areas of western Wisconsin, mean some homeowners in our area are needing to get their roofs replaced, or at the very least, having the storm damage repaired.  Roofing damage from hail is usually easy to spot, but there are other things that may indicate it's time for a new roof that might not be so obvious.

Every roof has a different lifespan and if you are unsure about the roof on your home and its age, then it might be a good thing to look into the quality or the condition of it. Some repairs can be patched up and left alone for a period of time. Other things might require you to get a whole new roof.  Here are some things to look for:

Signs Your Roof Needs Replacing

Water Leakage Inside the Home: If there are spots where water is leaking into your home (telltale signs are brown stains on your ceiling), that's a good indication you've got a leaky roof.  Sometimes this can be dealt with simply with a spot repair. You might just have a section where shingles are loose or missing, or flashing may need attention.  However, water leakage should never be ignored and should be inspected by a professional roofing contractor.  A small spot may be an indication of a larger problem that just hasn't shown up yet.

Rain Notches and Slots: Look at the notches that are located between the tabs of the shingles. This is where you can notice whether or not the spots are wider than they should be. You want to check for cracked, warped, or bent shingles. You want to check for missing shingles or sections where the edges are curled up.

Missing Roofing Granules: Granules are what make up the surface of an asphalt shingle.  If you have ever held a shingle, then you will notice they have something that looks like black sugar on the top.  Occasional deposits of roofing granules at the base of downspouts isn't unusual, but if you're noticing a large pile after a rain storm, that does indicate trouble. Or if you can observe whole sections of shingles where the surgary texture is missing, that means your roofing is failing. 

Weather Damage: Severe weather - and even hot sun - can cause a roof to age prematurely. And as we've seen with the recent bad storms, hail and winds can mean either roof repair or replacement.  Sometimes the issue is damage from a falling tree or even lightning strikes.  Whenever severe weather hits your neighborhood, it's a good idea to check your roof afterward.  The good news is that homeowner's insurance should cover any damage caused by a storm, but you need to report it to your insurance company quickly. 

Just having a look at the roof is something that can give you an idea of whether or not there is any life left in it. Oftentimes, if the roof is pretty bad, you will be able to tell that it needs to be replaced. When in doubt, it's a good idea to have it inspected. Most roofing contractor's will do this free of charge and give you an estimate for the cost of repairs or replacement. 

Quarve Contracting, Inc. is a licensed Minnesota home improvement contractor.  We serve the entire Minneapolis and St. Paul metro with exterior services such as roof repair and replacement.