The easy answer to this question is you can’t. The average age of an asphalt shingles roof is anywhere between 10-15 years and sometimes more depending up what materials are used and how they are installed. While you can’t prevent your shingled roof from a complete roof replacement, you can put off the inevitable by performing a biannual roofing inspection and the occasional roof repair as needed. In some cases, a complete reroof can be put off for up to 25 years. Use this guide to preventive shingle care and your asphalt shingle roof will last for many years to come.
It’s very important to perform a biannual roof inspection to catch roofing problems and have them repaired before they have a chance to start. While it’s not a good idea to climb on your own roof and check for damages, you can easily spot most of the following signs of roofing problems safely from the ground. Before the hot summer months and wet winter days come to Lorton, Virginia be sure to look for the following signs and give Roof.net a call today at (703)303-8546 or fill out the box in the left hand corner of your screen and we’ll send our team of experienced roofers to provide your home or business with a no obligation roofing inspection and a free estimate, complete with a detailed description of any roofing problems we find. Check out our contractor’s consumer reviews and see for yourself why Roof.net is the best inspection, roof repair and replacement company in the entire Northern Virginia area.
· Heavy Stains - When excessive stains occur around chimneys, against walls or around plumbing pipe stacks, you can bet that sealants or flashings are corroded. A sign like brown rust stains or white powdery oxidizing aluminum can mean that flashings panels are beginning to corrode. Black stains around chimneys and stacks might be a signal that sealants have begun to decay and need to be replaced before a roof leak occurs. Be sure to call a qualified roofer in Lorton, VA to repair damages before they have a chance to become a much larger one.
· Cupping Shingles - When you spot curling edges or cupped shingles on your roof, you can bet that your roofs shingles are well past their prime and a complete roof replacement is necessary. If curling shingles are limited to sections of your roof, it could mean that other problems lie below the surface in the attic space. Improper attic ventilation is cause for serious concern as this can easily age shingles, causing the telltale sign of cupped shingles. If you suspect your attic ventilation isn’t doing its job; don’t wait before shingle damages become worse. Call Roof.net today at (703)303-8546 and we’ll provide you with a no obligation attic ventilation assessment and an instant onsite estimate of any problems that we find.
· Soffit / Fascia Damages - This area of the roof protects your home using a combination of overlapping flashings to prevent water from entering the structure through the walls or the foundation. Be sure to check your soffit, fascia and drip edges for signs of disrepair. Damages like cracks, lose pieces or splits can mean that a roof leak is going to be inevitable soon. Call a crew of licensed and insured roofers right away to prevent problems from becoming much worse.
· Tree Debris - Leaf litter is a prime cause of roof leaks. When leaf debris is allowed to accumulate behind chimneys and in roofing valleys, it can keep moisture trapped against shingles. When this happens, mold and fungus growth can occur and prematurely decay asphalt shingles. Even worse, when tree branches are allowed to rub against an asphalt shingles delicate surface, you can bet that it will eventually wear out the protective layers that protect your home from water intrusion. Be sure to keep leaf debris off of your roof and trim trees back at least six feet to prevent a roof replacement.
· Heavy Granule Loss - When piles of shingle granules end up in your roof valleys; it’s a positive sign that your roof is going to need to be replaced soon. Roofing granules are what prevents the UV damages that bare asphalt experiences alone. Be sure not to use any abrasive cleaning methods when removing debris or snow and you can prevent the premature loss of your roofing granules.