How to weigh what you see
The first guide is repetition: a single clue calls for a repair, while several clues scattered across the surface signal a covering at the end of its run. The second is age. According to manufacturers and the quality of the installation, an asphalt shingle lasts 15 to 30 years and an elastomeric membrane 25 to 35 years, as an order of magnitude.
Write down what you see, with the date and a photo. These notes will count on the day you have to repair or replace a roof, especially if they come before the first leak.
From the ground, in spring and fall
One walk around the building in each of these two seasons is enough. Take binoculars and stay on the ground.
If the roof is sloped, look for:
- shingles with curled-up corners or cupped in the middle
- missing, broken or cracked shingles
- darker areas, a sign of lost granules
- granules collecting in the gutters and under the downspouts
- around the chimney, flashing that is rusty or no longer sealed
If the roof is flat, the surface is out of your sight, but the top of the walls tells a story:
- streaks or whitish deposits on the brick, just under the parapet
- a metal cap that is bent, rusty or has gaping joints
- during a heavy shower, water spilling over the edge
From the attic hatch
When the attic hatch can be reached without climbing, open it on a fine day and shine a flashlight. Look from the opening, without going in: under the insulation, nothing shows where a foot would hold. Insulation that looks like vermiculite may contain asbestos and must not be handled.
Note these clues:
- a sliver of daylight between two boards or around a vent
- wood with dark stains or streaks, on the roof deck as well as on the rafters
- nail tips that are rusty, or frosted in winter
- deck boards that are blackened or wavy
- a musty smell
Our part
Other signs can only be seen on the roof, by walking on the surface. This work is not yours.
On a shingle roof, we check whether a lifted shingle bends or breaks, whether the courses are still sealed to one another and whether the deck gives way under weight.
On an elastomeric membrane, we look for spots where the bitumen is bare for lack of granules, seams opening between two sheets, wrinkles, blisters, cracks and upturns coming loose at the bottom of the parapets.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find the year my roof was installed?
The installation year is on the invoice for the last work, or can be had from the previous owner. Without paperwork, a roofer can estimate an approximate age by examining the covering.
Is it a good idea to go look on the roof myself?
No, do not climb onto the roof. A fall happens quickly, and an aging covering suffers from being walked on. The ground, binoculars and the hatch already tell a lot.
The roof looks tired but nothing is leaking. Should I hurry?
Not necessarily, but now is the time to have us look at the roof. You will be able to compare quotes and pick the season that suits you, instead of deciding during a leak.
How do you recognize a roof that needs replacing?
A roof that needs replacing is recognized by its age and the extent of its defects. A single defect on a covering that is still young can be corrected. Wear found everywhere, leaks that move around or a lifespan that is nearly used up lead to replacement. A roofer confirms it on the roof.