Is Your Home Telling You That It Needs a New Roof?

Homeowners typically don't want to think that their home needs a new roof as the job can be expensive and a bit messy and disruptive. However, a new roof installation can reduce the risk of water leaks every time it storms outside, add insulation to your home and even increase your home's resale value if you should ever decide to put it on the real estate market. A new roof can also add to your home's kerb appeal if your current roof is faded, sagging or is missing shingles.

Since a roof doesn't actually need to collapse to need replacing, note a few signs that your home might need a new roof so you know when to discuss this with a roofing contractor.

Humidity in the attic

If your home doesn't have good ventilation, humidity will rise with the heat in your home and then get trapped in the attic. This humidity can then start to soften the roof rafters and beams; in turn, the roof may sag and shingles start to get loose. The roofing paper under those shingles may also start to tear away and holes can begin to form in the roof. Humidity may also be coming into the attic from outside through leaks and holes in the roof. Whatever the cause, if your home's attic feels uncomfortably humid, it's time to get your roof inspected for damage outside and along its underside.

Drafts

If your home feels drafty, this may signal that you need a new roof. An older roof starts to sag and shingles pull away or the roofing paper tears, and the roof then forms holes, as mentioned above. As with humidity, cold air can then get into the home through the roof and your house feels drafty.

Uneven heating and cooling

When the air conditioner comes on during summertime or the furnace kicks in during the winter months, your home should maintain a relatively even temperature. If you notice that certain rooms are never cool enough or warm enough, this may be the fault of an old roof. If there are holes in the roof, it will let out that cooled or warmed air in that part of the home alone, while other areas may feel fine. When you call a roofing contractor in this case, be sure you point out those areas to him or her so they know where to start looking for damage along the top of the roof and along the home's ceiling or roof rafters as well.