Installing a new roof on an existing house is a fairly complex process. However, it can make a huge difference in preserving the structure. Most homeowners will want to balance the benefits of a roofing installation project against possible alternatives. To do so, though, you'll need to know what the signs are that the time has come to do a fresh installation.
Layers
One of the simplest ways to tell if it's time is to look at how many layers of roofing materials are on the roof. Asphalt shingles tend to be the most common roofing products on the market, and you can add layers rather than installing a new roof in many cases. However, those layers can literally weigh tons, and that accumulation will eventually stress the roof and the overall structure of the house.
A good rule of thumb is to consider starting new after there are three layers of shingles on the roof. This typically keeps you in front of the weight issue. Folks in areas that don't get lots of rain or snow might be able to push the issue. However, the layers can act as vapor barriers so you should consider the potential consequences of trapping moisture at the top of your house.
Damage
There also comes a point where a roof is damaged enough that you may be further ahead to do a roofing installation rather than trying to patch things. If there are large holes, for example, you may need to do extensive repairs to the plywood underneath the felt and shingles. Once you get into that kind of work, it's often simpler to just tear everything off and start over.
Droop
A roof can develop a droop or a saddleback if its structure is failing. If a homeowner allows the problem to go for too long, this can get bad enough that it starts to destroy trusses and even beams at the top of the building. The problem often becomes evident when there's a deep enough depression on the surface of the roof to allow water to collect. You might see a small pool of water or ice on the roof after a storm, for example. The longer this lasts, the more likely the issue is bad.
There is no alternative once a roof begins to droop. In fact, a roofer will want to inspect the structure to be sure. The worst scenario is that the house has suffered unrecoverable structural damage and needs to be demolished. You should address any droops in the roof as soon as possible to improve the odds of your house avoiding that fate.
To learn more, contact a company like W.D. Hutchinson Roofing LLC.
When you have something you like inside a jar, you probably put a lid on it — right? In a way, you can think of your house in the same manner. You like and value the items inside, along with the inside of the house itself. So, it only makes sense that you would protect the interior of your home with a lid. That lid is your roof.
Keep that perspective in mind as you read this blog. Learning more about roofing will feel more interesting if you remember what a roof does: it protects the inside of the home and the people who live in it.