Ask the Expert

ANSWER:

There are a number of ways to determine if your roof needs to be replaced. The first is age. If your roof is about 20 years old, it’s probably nearing the end of its useful life. Shingle color, sun exposure and attic ventilation under the roof also impact a roof’s life span.

The second factor is appearance. If your roof has shingles that have broken off, look warped, curled or cracked, or have lost some of their granule surface (which is there to protect the shingles), the roof most likely needs to be replaced. Binoculars can be used to safely inspect the condition from the ground.

Finally, leaks are not the best way to determine whether or not your roof needs to be replaced. You mentioned that you don’t currently have any leaks, but it is important to note that your roof can be leaking for some time, even years, before you see evidence of it inside the house. This leaking can cause expensive damage to the roof sheathing, structure and insulation, not to mention the interior finishes of your home. So taking all of the above into consideration as well, it’s usually best to replace your roof before you see any leaks.

Expert's Bio

Charles Bull manages a design build construction company in Toronto, Canada, spending his days looking into everything from permits to the latest green building methods. With more than 15 years of experience in residential real estate, construction and renovation under his belt, Charles knows the answers to your home renovation queries — or will find them out if he doesn’t!