If you need an umbrella in the house once it starts raining, it’s pretty clear a new roof is in order – but sometimes it’s not that obvious. Because having a new roof put on is a fairly significant financial investment, homeowners often prefer to postpone the job as long as possible.
With that in mind, we’ve identified four red flags to watch for. Once these flags start appearing, it’s definitely time to start planning for a new roof – and if you have three or more of them, you need to call your Wilmington roofing contractor.
Red Flag #1: Your roof is old enough to buy its own drinks.
Unless you have a slate or metal roof, after the first quarter century goes by, the odds are pretty good you need a new roof. Contemporary modern high quality asphalt shingles can deliver 30+ years reliably, but most of the shingles installed thirty years ago can’t say the same.
Red Flag #2: Your roof looks terrible.
Time takes its toll on everything, and that includes your roof. If there are damaged, split, or missing shingles, or the granules from the shingles are all over the place, it’s time to have your Wilmington roofing contractor do an inspection to ensure the roof is still in good enough shape to be repaired.
Red Flag #3: Moisture, mold & mildew are a problem for you.
Any signs of leaks, including discolored ceilings, water damage to the walls, and mold and mildew growth, are a sign that your roof needs work. The reason it’s absolutely critical to get ahead of leaks is that water can do an incredible amount of damage to the structure of your home. Mold and mildew can cause serious health problems too.
Red Flag #4: Escalating utility bills.
Roof damage can cause the cost of heating and cooling your home to spiral out of control. If your electric and heating bills are suddenly sky high, look to the roof. If it’s in poor condition, that might just be the reason why!