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Q: Which best option in my roof? Should it would be repaired or replaced?

A: While a lot of people think that a leaking roof needs to be replaced, this may not be the case unless the roof is old. Missing, cracked, broken, and curling shingles can be repaired and replaced to stop a leak, while older roofs or roofs with multiple leaks or widespread issues should be replaced.

Q: How do I know that it is time to have my new roof?

A: Older roofing shingles and wood shakes typically have a 15- to 30-year lifespan depending on the shingles’ quality, the location and tree cover of your home, and how well the roof was installed originally. Direct sunlight, weather/wind, and poor roof deck ventilation are rough on Bay Area roofs.

Though the CertainTeed and GAF shingles we use today have lifetime warranties, they didn’t a decade ago. We tell our customers that 12 years is a good rule of thumb to go by. At that point, check for these warning signs:

• Curling shingles
• Loss of the asphalt granulation (looks like bald spots)
• Evidence of leaking on your ceilings
• Cracked or discolored interior drywall (painted or wallpapered)
• Decaying shingles
• Missing shingles
• Visible cracks
• Wind damage
• Broken or damaged shingles
• Rusted or missing flashing

If a residential roof is over 15 years old, we recommend you call us out for a look. Sometimes damage isn’t visible to the untrained eye on the ground, and catching it early can avoid expensive interior repairs in the future.