How old is your roof?
I Like To Exterior Services
You have the permit record or closing paperwork
That settles it. County assessor records are public and usually show the permit date for a reroof. Start there before estimating from appearance — age answers most repair-or-replace arguments on its own.
You can settle this one yourself. No call needed.
Flat shingles with cut tabs, all one thickness
Three-tab, rated around twenty years. Largely discontinued for residential use after the mid-2000s, so a three-tab roof is very likely at or past rated life. Curling at the edges confirms it.
You can settle this one yourself. No call needed.
Thicker shingles with a dimensional, layered look
Architectural, rated twenty-five to thirty. That rating assumes adequate ventilation and ordinary weather. Full sun, a poorly ventilated attic, or a history of hail all pull the real figure well below the number on the wrapper.
You can settle this one yourself. No call needed.
Granules building up in the gutters
Some loss is normal on a new roof and after storms. Compare a handful from the downspout outlet to what came off last year — steady accumulation from a mid-life roof means the mat is exposing.
You can settle this one yourself. No call needed.
Shingle edges curling or cupping across the roof
Once curling is general rather than local, the mat has lost its oils and the shingle no longer seals. Patching at that point is spending money on a roof that is finished.
Multiple layers visible at the roof edge
Look at the rake edge and count. Layering was normal practice for decades. It hides the decking condition, adds weight the framing was not sized for, and most manufacturers will not warrant over it.
A dip or sag along the ridge line
Look down the ridge from the ground. A dip means framing rather than roofing — rafter spread, a failed ridge board, or decking that has been wet a long time. That is a structural assessment before it is a roofing quote.
You want to check it yourself
Do it from the ground with binoculars. Curling, missing shingles, split pipe boots and ridge sag are all visible from the driveway. Falls from roofs are among the most common serious injuries in home maintenance and nothing you learn up there is worth it.
SAFETY — no contractor call. Follow the instruction above.
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Written by Jaylan Jones. I Like To Exterior Services earns a referral fee when a call connects to a contractor. See our business-model disclosure.
