What Is The Life Expectancy Of Your Roof?

How Long Can You Expect Your Denver Roof To Last?

If Your Roof Is Sagging, It Might Be Time For A Roof Replacement

It’s a trend that most of us just don’t get — teenagers wearing sagging pants. Getting them to pull up their sagging pants may be a battle you just can’t win, but you can win the battle if you’ve noticed your roof is sagging.

Professional roofing contractors Roof Worx can help assist you with identifying the problem of a sagging roof and performing roof repairs and a roof replacement if needed.

Causes of Roof Sagging

While a little sagging does not necessarily indicate that your roof is in imminent danger of collapsing, you need to act quickly to save the structure and prevent further damage. A sagging roof can frequently be repaired and reinforced by professional roofing contractors.

Roof Worx sees this condition from time to time. If your roof resembles a roller coaster with dips every couple of feet, it could be a sign of serious structural issues.

Generally speaking, roof sagging can be the result of the roof’s age, improper installation (poor construction or poor roofing materials used), water damage and excessive weight.

Rain And Snow Can Contribute To A Sagging Roof

Rain and snow can quickly damage a roof that has not been properly designed and maintained. The condition of the roofing materials are important. To allow water to run off, asphalt shingle roofs, stone coated steel tiles, metal roofing, architectural shingles, clay tile roofs, a wood roof, a slate roof, and other roofing material must be in good condition.

Metal flashing should be installed on your roof’s valleys and junctions to direct water away. Any damage to the roof’s surface will result in water entering and weakening the underlying structure.

Water problems can also be caused by a damaged or poorly designed gutter system. If runoff isn’t safely directed away from the house via gutters, it can pool on the roof and eventually seep in.

Insufficient ventilation can further aggravate water issues. When there is insufficient airflow in the attic, moisture accumulates on the underside of the roof, making it easier for water to penetrate the roof’s surface. Insufficient ventilation also allows for heat to build up, hastening the deterioration of your roofing material, including on an asphalt shingle roof, metal roof, clay tile roof, slate roof, and other roof types.

If water damage is causing your roof to sag, the first step is to address the issues that caused the damage. This may entail replacing shingles and flashing, repairing gutters, and improving attic ventilation.

Excess Weight on the Roof

Roofs are designed to support a certain maximum weight, and anything that exceeds the roof’s structural limit and load, especially over long periods of time, can cause it to sag. In cold-weather climates, the most common cause of excess weight on the roof is snow and ice.

If you think the weight of snow is causing your roof to sag, get a professional to clear the snow from your roof to prevent roof damage. In addition, keep your attic well-insulated and ventilated to avoid ice dams, which can cause roof leaks.

Weight-related sagging can also be caused by design flaws that render the roof incapable of supporting its own weight. Common flaws include undersized rafters, insufficient sheathing, and a lack of rafter or collar ties.

These issues usually cause the ridge of a stick frame (non-truss) sloped roof to sag in the middle, giving it a swayback appearance, but they can also cause one side of the roof to sag. Installing new rafters directly alongside the weak or damaged ones can solve the issue.

If the roof sags between the rafters or trusses, it’s most likely due to sheathing that’s too thin for the area it’s covering. The solution is to substitute thicker, more durable sheathing for the thin sheathing.

Even in a well-built roof, multiple layers of shingles — whether asphalt shingles, metal roofs, a slate roof, clay tiles roofs, a wood shingle roof and new roofing materials — that are heavier than the roof was designed for can cause sagging.

If your roof is sagging due to the weight of too many shingles, a professional roofing contractor will remove and replace them. The roofer will be able to inspect the flashing and underlayment for damage. If your roof began to sag after switching to a heavier roofing material, such as replacing wood shingles with clay tiles, slate tiles, or a metal roof, you’ll most likely need to return to a lighter material.

Roof sagging can also be a sign of a termite infestation.

Is Your Roof Reaching the End of Its Life Expectancy?

The lifespan of your roof plays into whether a roof begins to sag. Sagging is a common indicator that your roof is nearing the end of its useful life. Roofs, however, that are well-maintained can last for decades. Have an experienced roofing contractor inspect your current one to see if you need a roof replacement.

The team at Roof Worx can properly assess what is causing your roof to sag — whether it’s caused by natural sagging which occurs over a period of time where the roof sheathing begins to sag between the rafters, or something more serious like insect or water damage to the decking.

In addition, at Roof Worx, we work with all types of roofing materials, including asphalt shingles, dimensional shingles, architectural shingles, premium shingles, and clay tiles in addition to metal roofs and slate roofs. We can replace missing shingles, repair roof leaks, and make other roof repairs as well as perform regular roof inspections and roof maintenance to help with the roof life expectancy.

It’s important to note that a sagging roof is generally not covered by homeowners insurance. But, identifying it and correcting it quickly can save a homeowner a lot of money. So, if your roof is “sagging”, contact your local Denver roofing contractor, Roof Worx for a free 14 point inspection.

Contact your Denver roofing contractor, Roof Worx at (303) 353-1825 for assistance with all your roofing, roofing replacement, gutter, and siding needs. Roof Worx is your trusted roofer, providing Denver roofing, siding, gutters, and free Denver roofing inspections.

Give us a call today and let us show you the Roof Worx – Denver Roofing difference. Roofing Denver one roof at a time.