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When it comes to replacing the roof on your home, there is no room for error. After all, a new roof is an investment in the value of your home and your family’s comfort. Here are three ways you can prepare for your roof replacement.
 
How do you know it is time for a roof replacement?
An asphalt shingled roof will typically last 20-25 years provided it was properly installed and has balanced ventilation. If your roof has been regularly maintained but now you are finding it needs more maintenance than usual, it could be time to replace it. Other indicators for a replacement include:
 
Roof is nearing or is over 20 years old
Shingles are pitted, curling or split
Multiple leaks exist
Warping of the roof deck is evident
Moss or mold growth on shingles
How will you pay for replacing your roof?
The time to find out how much a roof replacement will cost is about a year or two before you need a new roof. This gives you time to set aside money or seek financing options. When you contact a roofing professional for an estimate, he will provide you a roofing estimate based on:
 
Amount of materials which are needed, including shingles, underlayment, and sheathing
Labor needed to complete the project
Special considerations based on the complexity of the project, including height or steepness of your roof
Once you have an estimate in hand, you can develop your strategy for how you will pay to replace your roof.
 
Who will you hire to replace your roof?
When it is time to hire a roofer for your roof replacement, it is best to work with a trusted local professional roofer. You want a roofer who has provided consistent and dependable service in your area. Why? Because once your new roof is installed, you will have a trusted roofer already in your corner when maintenance is needed.

In most instances, a roof repair emergency won’t give you advance warning before it occurs. The first sign is often a water intrusion into your home’s attic or finished living areas.
When Emergencies Happen
Your emergency may involve a sudden deluge or multiple smaller leaks caused by a damage scenario like:
High winds lift or rip off shingles or flashing, and wind-borne debris or hail punctures the underlayment.
The limb on a tree in your yard breaks off and comes crashing down into the attic.
An ice dam forms along your roof edge due to a lack of attic ventilation and insulation, allowing water to back up under the shingles.
Your age-deteriorated roof gives out during a heavy rainstorm.
Discovering you have a damaged, leaking roof is a traumatic experience. Knowing what to do before a roofing emergency occurs is the best way to minimize your stress. Taking the following steps in an emergency can also help you protect your home and its contents
Call a trusted roofing professional
You need a fully licensed and insured roofing pro with a proven track record in your area. They should have experience working with insurance claims. Make sure your chosen roofer can be on hand when the adjuster visits and help you navigate the claim process. A trustworthy roofer should also provide an accurate, detailed estimate and be upfront about your repair timeline.
Stay away from storm chasers and unethical roofers
Ideally, you should vet roofers before you’re facing an emergency situation. This way, you won’t fall prey to “storm chasers” who arrive in town after a severe weather event, do shoddy work and disappear. You can also weed out roofers who practice shady tactics, like charging your insurance for your deductible as a “sign fee.”

Deciding when to replace your roof requires achieving the right timing. If you do it too soon, you could be wasting your money. If you wait too long, the roof decking could be damaged to the point where more of the structure needs to be replaced, resulting in a costlier project. In order to know when to replace your roof, you need to be able to recognize the signs of a worn roof and be willing to check the condition of your roof once every month or two.
 
How Long a Roof Lasts
One factor in roof replacement is knowing how long a typical roof lasts. The lifespan of a roof depends on the materials. Asphalt shingle roofs are common throughout the USA, and they have an average lifespan of 20 years. Wood shakes may last from 5 to 15 years. A metal or clay tile roof could last up to 50 years. Slate roofs have the longest lifespan, averaging 100 years with proper care. If you notice a localized problem with your asphalt shingle roof, and the roof is only 11 years old, a spot repair makes sense. If you see the same problem on a roof that is 22 years old, it is a good idea to go for the replacement.
 
Be Aware of Roof Warning Signs
Roofs provide you with a few clues that it is time for a replacement. On the inside of your home, feel around your fireplace. Dampness is a sign of a leak around the flashing. Check ceilings for stains. If you see paint bubbles or peeling areas, this could be due to a roof leak. On the outside, use a pair of binoculars to scan the shingles. Curled corners, bubbles or missing shingles are problems. Rusted flashing, water stains on vent pipes or moss growth also suggest that the roof is due for a replacement. Access the gutters and check for grit or granules. These are bits of the finishing material on asphalt shingles. If there is a lot of this debris in the gutters, the shingles may be wearing out. When a bad storm has passed through, consider a professional roof inspection.
 
When to Repair
A simple repair such as fixing a piece of flashing is inexpensive and worthwhile. Doing small repairs could prevent a major roofing catastrophe. Storm damage is typically covered by homeowner's insurance, though you may have a deductible to pay. You will need to mitigate the damage until the roof can be replaced. Most roofers will put tarps over the damage until they can fit your replacement project into their schedule.
 
Replacing Your Roof
In some places, two layers of shingles are allowed. Putting a new layer of shingles on could save you some money, but it may be a false economy. The new layer of shingles will have a shorter lifespan than if you had the first layer removed before putting new shingles on. Replacing the metal flashing and underlayment also helps a roof to last longer.

Five Clues That Will Tell You If You Need Roof Replacement
How do you know if your roof needs replacement? If not the whole roof, you may need to replace some of its parts. But are there clues that will tell you before water stains appear on the plaster of your ceilings? It is important for you to know these signs because it will mean the difference between a small and inexpensive repair and a large and costly job that may even take several days to accomplish. Here are some clues that will tell you if you need a roof replacement.
 
 
1.            Roof is already old
If your roof is already more than 20 years old, and there are signs that problems are beginning to develop, it’s time to think of replacing it. Even if there seems to be no problem yet, it is wise to have it inspected so that you will be able to see its actual condition. Have a roof specialist check all of the possible roof sections that are prone to damage. Ask him to make an estimate of the repair or replacement of each damaged section so that you will know how much you need to prepare to have it repaired or replaced.
 
2.            Problems with roof shingles
Roof shingles will give you some clues if they need replacements. Look at the following clues:
 
Algae growth – when there is algae growth on the roof shingles, moisture will be trapped on the roof longer than it should. The life of the roof will be affected if the moisture is not eliminated.
Shingles are curled, cracked or some are missing – over time, shingles will curl, crack or be torn apart from the roof. That means their protective granules are already worn out. When these conditions are present, it’s about time to replace the roof shingles.
3.            Evidence of rotting
Rotting will also tell you if you need to repair or replace your roof.
 
If there are wooden parts in the roof that are already rotting in their places, it could mean the presence of termites or that moisture has been doing their damaging work. You need a roof specialist to determine the real cause of the problem. Termite problems are easy to spot, but leaking problems are more difficult to trace. A professional root repair service provider will also help you choose the right steps to take to solve the problem.
Another type of damage that you need to check is dry rotting. This type of rotting occurs not because of leaking or dripping water but by poor ventilation. When there is dry rot, the roof may sag in. It will cause the shingles to be brittle and then to crack, which will lead to leaking. Consult a roof specialist on how you can prevent dry rot in your roof.
4.            Damaged Flashings
Flashings on the roof are always subjected to the elements that cause them to separate, lift and for their caulking to dry out. These things can happen to the flashings that are installed in chimneys, stacks, wall details, rakes, eaves, valleys and skylights. Due to contraction and expansion, the flashing details will be prone to lifting and separation. The continuous contraction and expansion that they experience will cause their fasteners to loosen up and the flashing flange at the bottom to be lifted thus causing water penetration.
 
5.            Sunlight coming through the roof boards
If you are in your attic and you notice that sunlight is peeking through the roof boards, you may need to have some repairs or even some replacements in your roof. When there is a spongy feeling as you walk on the roof, that could mean moisture has already weakened the underlying deck. Consult a professional roof service provider to determine the best way you can solve this roof problem.