Skip to main content

«  View All Posts

Roof Replacement

When Should You Get a New Roof? (3 Signs That You Need a Replacement)

December 21st, 2020 | 6 min. read

When Should You Get a New Roof? (3 Signs That You Need a Replacement)

Print/Save as PDF

Do you have a roof leak? Are you wondering if you need a full roof replacement? If so, you need to know when you should get a new roof. 

That’s why you need to look for the signs that it’s the right time for a roof replacement. But what are they? Luckily, we’ve broken it down for you. 

The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality roofing services to the residents of Nashville since 1990. Whether you need repairs or a full roof replacement, you can count on our workmanship to maximize your investment. When you work with us, you’ll never worry about your roof again. 

So, when should you get a new roof? Always eager to help you understand your roof, I’m going to answer that and more. 

When should you get a new roof?

Just because your roof is leaking doesn’t mean you need a new roof. Depending on what the problem is, you could only need repairs instead of a roof replacement. So, when should you get a new roof? 

You should only get a roof replacement when it’s the right time for one. The right time is when your roof is near the end of its life, it's hit by a strong storm, or if your roofing materials fail prematurely because of poor workmanship. 

If your roof leak isn’t caused by the reasons above, you should only need repairs until it’s actually time to replace it. However, you won’t know what your roof actually needs until a local roofing contractor inspects it.

The last thing you want is for a roofing contractor to sell you a new roof you don’t need. That makes finding a reputable contractor you can trust crucial to your roof investment. 

To help you weed out the bad roofing companies and find one you can trust, read this article on the top 8 questions to ask a roofing contractor

3 signs that you need a roof replacement

You just learned that your roof needs to be replaced at the right time. Remember, your roof needs to be near the end of its life, hit by a strong storm, or the roofing materials have to fail prematurely.

But why should your roof be replaced because of these reasons? 

1. Your roof is nearing the end of its life

The life of a roof is how many years you get out of it. As long as your roof has been properly installed and has adequate attic ventilation, you should get pretty close to the manufacturer’s specified lifespan.

With that in mind, you want to replace your roof when it’s near the end of its life before it starts leaking or fails completely. A reputable roofing contractor will recommend that you replace your roof somewhere around 80-85% of the manufacturer’s specified lifespan.

For example, a dimensional asphalt shingle roof has a lifespan of 30 years. You should start considering a replacement around the 27-year mark.

Don’t wait until it’s too late, get ahead of any potentially costly problems and replace your roof before the end of its life. To learn the lifespan of your new roof, read this article on how long your new roof will last

2. Your roofing materials fail prematurely

Remember, your roofing materials should live as long as the manufacturer specifies. However, there are cases when your roof fails prematurely and leads to a roof replacement well before you should need one. 

Two of the common causes of premature roof failure are improper roof installation and inadequate attic ventilation. If your roof wasn’t installed using correct roofing techniques, you’re going to find shingles in your yard or even full sections sliding off your roof. 

If your attic wasn’t properly ventilated, then the damage from the trapped heat and cold will drastically shorten your roof’s life. Be aware, when your roof isn’t properly ventilated or properly installed the manufacturer’s warranty on your roofing materials will be voided. 

This leaves you with only your contractor’s workmanship warranty to fall back on to replace your prematurely failed roof. To learn more about your warranty options, read this article on what roof warranties cover

3. Your roof is hit by extreme weather

The weather where you live and the kind of storms your roof faces factor into how much wear and tear it goes through. But it’s the extreme weather (tornado, straight-line winds, hail) that hits your roof that will lead to roof replacement. 

If a tornado hits your home, there’s a good chance your roof has extensive damage. If the strong winds from the tornado rip up your shingles or a tree falls on your roof, then clearly, you’re going to need a new one. 

Straight-line winds will rip your shingles off your roof if they’re not properly installed and, depending on the extent of the damage, could lead to a roof replacement. If you have a metal roof system, then hail damage to your metal panels will lead to a replacement if the integrity of the metal is compromised.

But for an asphalt shingle roof to be replaced from hail, it has to cause damage to the soft metals (downspouts, gutters, vents, or flashing) that are on your roof. If any of this extreme weather causes heavy damage or your roof is a total loss, you’ll have to get a full roof replacement through your homeowner’s insurance. 

To learn more about how the weather in your area can affect your roof, read this article on how the weather impacts the life of your new roof

What you need to consider before replacing your roof

You just learned that you should get a roof replacement when it’s the right time for one. You also learned the 3 signs that it’s the right time for a new roof.

Before calling a roofing contractor or jumping right into the roof replacement process, there are some things you need to consider. To help you even further, we're going to give you the 5 main things every homeowner should think about before getting a new roof. 

The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided the residents of Nashville and surrounding areas with high-quality roof replacements since 1990. We take pride in our reputation and are proud to provide you with a lifetime warranty to protect your roof investment. If you’re local to Nashville, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free no-obligation roof assessment from one of our experts today. 

To learn what you need to consider before getting a new roof, check out this article on the 5 Things You Need to Consider Before You Replace Your Roof.

roofing contractor questions checklist

Table Of Contents

Related Articles