Tile Roof Lifespan: When Should You Repair Or Replace?

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home, but do you know your tile roof lifespan? When is it time to repair or replace your tile roof?

A good roof will keep your home safe from the elements, so you won’t need to worry about roof leaks, mold, or other issues that can befall your home.

At some point though, your roof will need some TLC, but how can you determine your tile roof lifespan?

How can you tell when the roof needs repair? How do you know if the whole roof needs replacing?

 

What Is Tile Roof Lifespan?

If you see issues with your roof, then it’s easy to start worrying about replacing the whole thing.

Sometimes that roof will need replacing, but in some cases you’ll just need to make some repairs to keep your roof going.

If the issue is localized to a specific area of your roof, a repair can be made to avoid a full roof replacement.

Some issues aren’t down to the roof itself, so you can make the correct repairs and avoid ripping off the whole roof itself.

To be really sure though, the best thing to do is to call in a roofer to take a look at your roof for you.

They’ll have the expertise to decide if you just need a repair or a full replacement.

 

 

Signs You Need Repair or Replacement

There are plenty of signs to determine if you’re at the end of your tile roof lifespan.

Here’s what you need to be looking out for when you’re inspecting your roof.

 

1. Damaged Roof Tiles

Over time, your asphalt roof tiles will take damage and start showing signs of wear. There are certain signs you need to be looking out for.

• If only some of the tiles are showing issues, then it’s possible that only that section of your roof will need to be replaced.
• If most of them are showing issues, then it may be a sign of an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

You’re looking for anything that has changed the look of the tile.

The tiles may be cracked, especially if you’ve had severe weather in your area. There also may be ‘cupping’ or curling, where the edges of the tile curl up.

If the tiles aren’t looking their best, you’ll need to address whatever’s causing the problem for you.

 

2. Loose Tiles

The tiles on your roof may not be damaged, but they may be loose. You’ll see this very quickly if you go up and inspect your roof.

• If the tiles are moving around when you walk on them, you’ll see that they’re loose. This means you are at the end of your tile roof lifespan and these tiles will need replacing.
• If it’s only a few tiles, then replacing them shouldn’t be a problem. It’s best to keep a box or two of tiles when you replace a roof, as some may become damaged or loose later on.

You can take the new tiles and replace them quite easily.

 

3. Leaking Attic

When inspecting your roof, you need to go up and check your attic. There’s several things you can check up there to ensure that your roof is in the best health.

When you’re up there, look for moisture and other evidence that there’s a leak up there.

• Leaking is a sign that there are gaps in your roof, allowing water to come in.
• This is a problem, as increased moisture in your attic will lead to mold and mildew developing.

Left long enough, this can rot the wood in your roof, and lead to a whole new roof needing to be installed on your home.

 

4. Light in Your Attic

When you’re inspecting your attic, make sure you’re doing it during the day time.

When you’re up there, you can see if any day light is making its way in through the roof. If you are seeing light, again that means there are gaps in your roof that need mending.

• If there’s only a few gaps, then a repair should be sufficient.
• If there’s many gaps in the roof, that is a sign that the roof may need a full replacement.

 

 

5. Sagging Roof Deck

What does it mean if the roof deck is sagging? When you’re up on the roof, you’ll be able to see this for yourself.

The roof will be sagging into the attic, and will look generally tired and worn. This is a sign that the roof decking is past its prime, and in need of replacement.

• In many cases, this will call for a full roof replacement.
• If the sagging is only happening in one area though, you may get away with only replacing that section.

Talk to a roofer to see what will need to be done.

 

6. Moss and Mold

You need to be wary of mold in your roof, but did you know that you also need to be careful of mold on it, too?

In some cases, you can leave moss on your roof as it doesn’t really cause any problems.

However, if it’s left for too long, it will start to force gaps between the tiles as it grows between them. This  will allow water in and cause more problems, leading to a shorter tile roof lifespan.

You can stop this before it becomes a problem, by cleaning the moss and mold off the roof before it really takes a hold.

• Use diluted bleach to kill it off, and use a long handled broom to knock it off your roof.
• Be careful not to be too rough, or you could knock tiles loose.

 

6. Losing Heat Through Your Roof

If you’re seeing your utility bills increase, then you may be losing heat through the roof. The roof will be poorly insulated, so you’re losing money through the roof itself.

If you find this is happening, the best thing to do is to insulate that roof properly. You can bring in a company to do it for you, or insulate it yourself if you have some know how.

These are just a few of the signs that your roof needs some help.

Keep a close eye on your tile roof lifespan, and you’ll be able to tell if it needs repairing or replacing.