Please don't walk on your roof to check it. A pair of binoculars from the yard, a look in the gutters and 15 minutes in the attic with a flashlight will tell you most of what you need to know. The NRCA recommends a look twice a year, in spring and fall, and after any big storm.
From the yard
- Curling or cupping shingles. Edges that turn up, or centers that sag into a cup, mean the shingles have lost their flexibility. Wind gets under curled edges easily. This is one of the clearest signs of an asphalt roof near the end of its life.
- Cracked, broken or missing shingles. A few after a windstorm can be a repair. Cracks spread across many slopes point to aging shingles.
- Bald spots. Patches where the granules have worn off and the dark asphalt shows through. The granules protect the asphalt from UV, so once they're gone the shingle ages fast.
- A sagging roofline. A dip along the ridge or in the middle of a slope can mean the deck or framing has been weakened by water. Have it looked at soon.
- Lifted or rusted flashing. Look where the roof meets chimneys, dormer walls and skylights. Flashing that's pulled away, rusted or patched with lots of tar is a common leak source.
- Moss and heavy streaking. Black streaks are usually algae, which is mostly cosmetic. Moss holds moisture against the shingles and lifts their edges, which is a bigger problem on shaded slopes.
In the gutters
- Granules in the gutters or at the downspouts. A handful after a new roof goes on is normal. Steady accumulations on an older roof mean the shingles are shedding their protective surface.
In the attic
- Daylight through the roof boards. If you can see light, water can get in.
- Water stains, damp insulation or a musty smell. Look along rafters, around chimneys and vent pipes, and at the eaves. Dark staining on the underside of the deck means moisture has been there more than once.
- Frost on nail tips or sheathing in winter. This points to a ventilation or air-sealing problem. It often shows up as drips in the spring and rot over time. See attic ventilation.
Inside the house
- Ceiling or wall stains, especially on top floors and below valleys or chimneys
- Peeling paint or bubbling drywall near the ceiling line
- Icicles and ice ridges forming at the same eaves every winter, a sign of ice dams
How urgent is it?
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Active leak, sagging, missing sections after a storm | Call now. Get a temporary tarp to stop more damage, take photos, and contact your insurer if it was storm damage. |
| Curling, bald spots, granules in gutters, roof older than 20 years | Plan a replacement within the next season or two. Get an inspection to see how much life is left. |
| A few loose shingles, one failed pipe boot, algae streaks | Usually a repair or cleaning, if the roof is otherwise sound. |
The age check
Compare what you see with the roof's age. InterNACHI estimates about 20 years for 3-tab asphalt shingles and about 30 for architectural shingles, less with poor ventilation or heavy shade. A 22-year-old 3-tab roof with curling and granule loss is at the end of its life. A 12-year-old architectural roof with the same symptoms probably has a ventilation or installation problem worth diagnosing before you replace anything. More in how long a roof lasts.
Seeing two or more of these signs? Book a free inspection and we'll tell you whether it's a repair or a replacement.