Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late! 4 Signs of a Failing Roof

May 4, 2015

Figuring out when to replace your roof is a lot like unraveling a mystery. You look for clues that tell you when the roof has reached the end of its service life. Your best bet is letting a professional roofing company in Falls Church, VA do the detective work, but it’s good to be familiar with the signs of a failing roof yourself.

Here are the most common signs:

Staining or Streaking

Those dark, nasty areas on your roof? They may be signs of trapped moisture caused by faulty or insufficient underlayment beneath the shingles. These dirty-looking streaks indicate decay and you may be better off completely replacing the roof.

Look for a roofing system that has impressive waterproofing barriers, like the ones GAF manufactures. The industry-leading Lifetime Roofing System features innovative roofing accessories like roof deck protection, ridge cap shingles, and leak barriers that guard against moisture concerns.

Damaged Shingles

During inspection, experts pay close attention to the condition of your shingles. Cracking, curling, blistering, and other forms of damage point to old age, in which case you’ll need to get replacement. If your roof often experiences blow offs, pick a roofing system that’s more suitable for the weather in your area.

Metal roofs are known for their incredible strength and “weather-ability”. They can last up to three times longer than an ordinary shingle roof. Lyons Contracting, experts in roofing in Falls Church, VA, custom-builds metal roof according to your home’s needs. Our products are excellent when facing strong winds, hail, rain and other elements.

Attic Problems

Stains and streaks could form on the ceiling undersides as well. Uneven temperatures in the attic create too much humidity that could in turn lead to leaks and moisture problems. Minor leaks are typically easy to remedy. Professionally performed emergency repairs do the trick, at least in the short term.

In other cases, full replacement is the smarter choice. If you suspect that your attic is facing some serious issues, have expert roofers inspect it at once. We will help you decide whether repair or replacement would be the best solution.

Rising Energy Costs

A good fraction of the energy you consume indoors could quite literally be going through your roof. In the summer, inefficient systems absorb heat from the sun and warm up your interiors. In the winter, it lets heated air escape through the roof.

Do you find yourself overworking your HVAC systems to balance indoor temperatures? Consider replacing your current roof with a more energy-efficient option. Flat roofing systems from Firestone feature rubber layers and specialized coatings that help with heating and cooling. GAF also has a line of “cool shingles” that can help insulate your home.

Lyons Contracting offers and installs superior shingle, metal, tile, and slate systems that would make great replacements for your failing roof. When you turn to us, we’ll detect the issues on your current roofing and help you pick out the best replacement options.