It’s not easy to learn that your roof needs to be replaced. If this is true, you should replace your entire roof. Your roof is your first line of defense against the weather. A roof in poor condition can pose a threat to your home as well as your family.
In some cases, however, you may only need to replace the roof’s shingles and not the whole roof. It is far more cost-effective and time-efficient to replace shingles than to replace the entire roof. How do you know if you can replace your shingles alone or if you need to replace the whole roof?
Shingles Can Be Replaced Easily
Here are some examples of situations where simply replacing damaged shingles can be enough to keep your roof in good shape.
- The shingles are damaged or cracked- Cracked shingles can be repaired individually. If the crack or tear in the shingle is not severe, it may be possible to repair the shingle with roofing sealant.
- There are no shingles- The entire shingle must be replaced if a part of it is missing. If debris is blown onto your roof, it can cause a shingle fragment to fall off.
- There are missing shingles- Missing shingles should be replaced immediately. Your roof is vulnerable to wind and rain if a shingle is missing. Wind can penetrate the roof and cause more damage. Rain may also be able to leak into the area where the missing shingle is.
It’s Time To Replace The Entire Roof
Here are some examples of situations when replacing individual shingles won’t suffice and you will need to replace the entire roof.
- Your roof is old- Your roof’s shingles are between 20-25 years old, it is likely that they are at the end of their useful life span. You may consider replacing the entire roof rather than replacing individual shingles or making repairs.
- The shingles are curling- Curling of shingles is often an indication that they have reached the end of their useful life. Your roof is more vulnerable to wind damage and leaks when shingles curl.
- Shingles are losing their granules- Shingles have granules that protect the asphalt coating from UV rays. If shingles lose their granules it is a sign that your roof needs to go.
This post was written by Ted Williams! Ted is the owner of A Old Time Roofing which offers roofing in St Petersburg Fl. Ted is a Master Elite Weather Stopper GAF Roofing Contractor, a double award winner of Best Steep-Slope Contractor from GAF and achiever of Master Elite Consumer Protection Excellence from GAF. He has been serving the Pinellas County area since 1978. Old Time Roofing has a tradition of quality workmanship, servicing residential and commercial properties.