If you’re reading this, it probably sounds like this
- “It isn’t leaking, so maybe it has a few more years in it?”
- “I have no idea what a new roof even costs anymore.”
- “I don’t want to spend a Saturday with three salespeople just to find out.”
- “I’d rather do it on my schedule than in an emergency.”
That last one is the right instinct. A roof replaced on your schedule usually costs less than one replaced after a leak picks the date for you: no water damage to fix, and you can choose a lower-priced week.
7 signs your roof is near the end
Grab binoculars and a flashlight. You can check most of these from the yard and the attic in half an hour.
Shingles curling or cupping
As shingles age they dry out, and the edges curl up or the middles cup down. Curled shingles catch the wind and let water under.
How to check: Look along the roof in low morning or evening light, when edges that don’t lie flat cast shadows.
Granules piling up in the gutters
The granules protect the asphalt from the sun. When they wash off steadily, the shingles dry out and crack faster.
How to check: A layer of sandy grit at the bottom of the downspouts.
Bald or dark patches
Spots where the granules are gone show the asphalt underneath. Those areas wear through first.
How to check: Patches that look darker or smoother than the rest of the roof.
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Cracked or missing shingles
Brittle shingles crack in cold snaps and break off in wind. A few after a big storm can happen to any roof. A few every year means the roof is giving up.
How to check: Pieces of shingle in the yard, or gaps you can see from the ground.
Daylight or stains in the attic
From inside, a worn roof shows itself as light through the boards, dark water stains on the wood, or damp insulation.
How to check: Go up with a flashlight on a sunny day, and again after rain.
A roofline that dips
A sagging section means the deck or the framing under it has weakened, usually from moisture over years. It needs attention before the winter snow load.
How to check: Look along the ridge from the street. It should be straight.
Its age
Asphalt shingle roofs in Connecticut commonly last about 20 to 30 years, depending on the shingle, the attic ventilation and how much sun the roof gets.
How to check: Check your purchase paperwork or the town’s permit records for the last re-roof.
Replace it now, or give it a season?
Probably fine for a season
- One or two of these signs, on a roof under 15 years old
- Nothing showing in the attic
- Shingles still lie flat
Time to plan the replacement
- Three or more of these signs
- Any water or daylight in the attic
- A roof over 20 years old, or a letter from your insurer about it
Either way, knowing the number now means you decide on your timeline.