Roof replacement is one of the home improvement projects that inspire dread in most homeowners. The anxiety that comes with roof replacement is typical because it will be an expensive endeavour, as you would have to change your whole roof and pay for the labour involved. In addition to this, you may be unable to utilise your entire house throughout the process, which can be quite an inconvenience. As such, some homeowners will try to keep this project at bay for as long as they possibly can. What they are not keeping in mind is that a declining roof will start to pose structural damage to your residence's structure too! So how do you know that it is about time to replace your roof?

Internal inspections

The first thing that you should do is evaluate the interior of your home for signs of extensive roof damage. If your ceiling has started to shows signs of damage, it is a sure-fire sign that your roof is severely compromised and would require replacement post haste. Some of the internal inspections that you should be wary of include:

• Light is streaming through cracks and gaps in the ceiling.

• Patches of discolouration on your ceiling, typically caused by water damage.

• Patches of rot and wet spots on the roof sheathing, which would indicate severe water damage.

• Signs of mould and mildew on the ceiling or in the attic, as this would indicate undetected leaks from your roofing.

External inspections

In some cases, your roof may be compromised but may not be exhibiting signs at the interior of your home. The lack of internal symptoms could indicate that the damage has not become extensive. Therefore, you still have time to replace your roofing, without having to worry about additional repairs to your structure. When checking for exterior signs, it is recommended to use a pair of binoculars rather than getting up on the roofing risking further damage to it due to your weight. On the other hand, you could leave it to a professional roofer to carry out the inspections for you. Some of the external symptoms of roof damage would include:

• Chipped paint or the onset of rust on metal roofing. If corrosion has started, it is a sure fire sign that your metal roofing is compromised and would require immediate replacement.

• Shingles with curled edges would imply that your roof is susceptible to water ingress, as the shingles are not lying flat. Another sign that you should be wary of is bare shingles as this means that they have been eroded over time.