Tips For Replacing and Taking Care of Your Roof
Your first clue is the age of your roof. The average life expectancy of a typical residential roof is 15 to 20 years. If your roof was properly installed and is less than that age, it can often be repaired rather than replaced. Isolated leaks usually can be repaired.
Water damage to your home's interior or overhangs is commonly caused by leaks from a single weathered portion of the roof, poorly installed flashing, or in the area around chimneys and skylights. These problems do not necessarily mean you need to replace the entire roof.
Whatever the roofing material -- composition shingle, wood shake, tile or metal -- the best way to preserve your roof is to stay off it. Seasonal changes in the weather are usually responsible for wear and tear on your roof. Make sure you clean leaves and debris from the roof's valleys and gutters. Debris in the valleys can cause water to spread under the shingles and cause damage. Clogged gutters can cause water to flow back onto the eaves and cause damage.
