A homeowner who has invested in roof shingles for their Bucks County, PA residence might think that their roof shouldn’t need to be replaced, and in a lot of ways, that’s a pretty accurate assumption. Shingles have a lifespan that can last for decades if they’re subjected to the right conditions and proper maintenance.

However, every roof eventually needs to be replaced, regardless of how well-maintained it might be. If your house isn’t particularly new, then the roof may need to be replaced at some point while you’re still calling it “home.”

When maintaining your shingle roof – or deciding to replace it – here’s what you should keep in mind:

What Shingles Are Made Of

Roof shingles typically consist of three key elements: a base layer, a layer of asphalt, and a layer of ceramic granules to help protect the roof from UV exposure. These three basic components can be altered, depending on how old the roof is and what kind of manufacturer is supplying the shingles.

Older shingles have a paper fiber base, which has asphalt layered on top of it and then gets dusted with ceramic granules. This method of manufacturing shingles has declined in recent decades because the resulting product uses a lot of asphalt in comparison to other methods. The result is a more substantial roofing material that requires more labor to install and costs more.

Most modern shingles use a fiberglass woven base, since using fiberglass reduces the amount of asphalt needed to make a durable shingle. Since fiberglass shingles need less asphalt, they are a lighter material to work with and have the added benefit of being more fire-resistant.

Cosmetic Issues

On inspecting your roof, you might see some signs of wear that aren’t immediately dangerous to your roof, but you should still try to correct. Algae and moss can sometimes grow in the crevices between your roofing tiles and are pretty easy to remove. In most cases, all you need is a broom and a bit of scrubbing to get rid of the issue.

When to Consider Replacement

While fixing cosmetic issues with your roof is essential, there are far more severe problems that may require a replacement of your shingle roof.

Every roof is a little different, and the lifespan depends on maintenance and the weather conditions it’s subjected to, but generally speaking, you should consider replacing your roof if:

• There are curled or buckled shingles
• Shingles are missing
• Some shingles are cracked
• Some shingles are lifted or misaligned
• Gutters are filling with granules

One of the best ways to see if your roof needs replacing is to have it regularly inspected, since an experienced professional will have a better understanding of what damage might undermine your roof’s stability.

Think it’s time to replace your roof? If you’re interested in getting a quote for roof replacement services in Bucks County, PA, give C.R. Thompson Roofing a call today!