Your home’s roof takes a lot of punishment from the elements, and it’s important to know when your roof needs to be repaired or even replaced altogether. Here are a few signs that can tell you when it’s time to call a roofer.

Signs that Your Roof Needs to be Repaired or Patched

The best way to decide if your roof needs repairs is to look at the shingles. If your shingles are curling around the edges or buckling, you probably need to have your roof repaired. Look at the shingles that receive the most direct sunlight, as they are the ones most likely to show signs of wear and tear. You can also look for granules from your shingles in your rain gutters. Asphalt shingles shed granules as they age, so seeing a lot of loose granules is a good sign that you at the very least need new shingles. Broken or missing shingles are a definite sign that you need to repair or patch your roof.

Signs that You Need a New Roof

You might be able to simply have your roof repaired or patched if you only see problems with the shingles, but eventually you may have to replace your roof altogether. This may be the case if your roof is over 25 years old since it is almost certainly at the end of its lifespan. Other signs to watch for include flashings that are separating from the rest of the roof, missing shingles in the roof’s valleys or daylight that is showing through the roof’s boards. Your roof might also have a spongy feeling if you walk on it. Of course, you will almost certainly need a new roof if you notice any serious leaks when it rains or when snow accumulates on your roof in the winter. You might be able to get away with patching a minor leak on a relatively new roof, but as a rule any roof that starts to leak should be replaced sooner rather than later.