When planning roofing work, one of the first questions your roofing contractors would ask you is the age of your roof. Most homeowners don’t think about the age of their roof until they’re asked about it. However, knowing the age of your roof is extremely important for you and your contractor. To help you understand why the age of your roof matters, be sure to read further.
Why Do You Need To Know the Age of Your Roof?
The age of your roof will determine your contractor’s next steps. It helps them choose whether you need a simple repair or full replacement. While it takes a complete roofing inspection to decide the future of your roof, knowing the age of your roof provides your contractor with important information before they come to your home.
Additionally, it helps you prepare if it’s time to replace your roof. If you think the roof is near the end of its lifespan, it’s time to reach out to professional roofers for a roof replacement. For instance, an asphalt shingle typically has a lifespan of 30 years. Once your roof gets somewhere around 80-85% of its lifespan, you may want to consider replacing your roof. For an asphalt shingle roof, this usually means around 27 years.
How Can You Find Out the Age of Your Roof?
If you just moved into your home and you don’t know the age of your roof, you will need to investigate. Here are some ways to find out the age of your roof:
- Ask the previous owners. It’s important not to cut off all contact with the previous owners so you can ask them questions about the state of the house, including the roof installation. If the previous owners were in the house for a long time, they likely know when the current roof was last replaced.
- File a request for the building permit. Some counties require a building permit for roof installations. If yours does, you can contact your county government and request a copy of the permit. The permit should include the exact date the roof was installed as well as other details of your roofing system, such as roof repair.
- Talk to the roof replacement company. If the previous owners do not recall when the roof was last installed, they may put you through with the roofing company that replaced the roof. Since roof installation companies typically keep records of all their roofing work, they may still have a copy of the receipt of the roof installation.
- Schedule an inspection. A home inspector can come to your house, examine the state of your roof, and estimate its age. They will know the signs of roof aging when they see them and provide you with an honest evaluation.
For more inquiries regarding your roofing system, get in touch with our experts at 4U Roofing. Call us today at (251) 235-2222 or fill out our contact form to set an appointment. We proudly serve homeowners in Baldwin, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Loxley, and the surrounding AL areas.
