From the exterior, shingles can be showing their age by being cracked, curled or even missing in areas. Rotting Fascias and soffits are a good sign that the aging process is also affecting the shingles and wood underneath. When you look at the roof, there might be a bowing of the roof signifying that the wood underneath is rotted. Look for corroded flashing (metal). Clogged gutters may have large amounts of granules from the decomposing shingles.

Not as easily determined but nonetheless just as important, the interior needs to be checked. Water damage could be spotted in the attic, closets, ceilings and walls. If you see discolored areas, plaster or wallpaper loosening, soft spots in the walls, the moisture could be running down the inside walls so as not to be as noticeable.

Whether or not you have a leak and know the approximate age of the shingles to be around 18 years old, you are probably due for a new roof soon anyway. Keep an eye on these areas to prevent any problems.

Don’t Wait Til It’s Too Late...

If you do wait for a leak to occur, to decide to replace your shingles, you may encounter more problems than you want. When the water starts to come in, it can cause damage from the point where it entered and can wander through the skeleton of the house until you find it dripping from your ceiling fan or find the walls soft and moist. It can take up to a year or more of leaking to show on the inside, making it quite possible that interior damage can be of substantial cost for replacement by you the home owner.