When Should You Replace the Roof on a Rental Property?

Roof replacement is an expensive but also an unavoidable expense of property owners. The moment a roof is installed, the countdown to its eventual expiration date begins. The lifespan of a roof can range from 25 to 100 years, depending on the type of roof. But there are no guarantees that a roof will last until the end of its useful life. Factors like an area’s weather and how well the property owner looks after the roof determine when the roof will eventually need replacing.

Especially, for rental properties, it is important for property owners to keep a keen eye on the condition of their roof. If the roof’s appearance is allowed to deteriorate, the property will lose its attraction for potential tenants. Moreover, a roof that is in a bad shape is liable to develop leaks and make the home unlivable for tenants. Leaks can also result in extensive damage to the major structures and systems of a home. This is why regular roof inspection is critical to maintaining the viability of a rental.

By inspecting their rental property roof on a schedule, landlords can do the following for themselves:

• Address minor issues early and prevent them from becoming major expenses
• Detect signs of imminent roof failure so that they can start planning for roof replacement
• Avoid wasting money on makeshift fixes when the roof actually needs replacing

But to correctly assess the condition of a roof and determine when it needs replacing, landlords must be able to identify the signs of roof failure. Here are the indicators that a rental property’s roof is due for changing.

1.   Damaged shingles

This is not just a case of one missing or damaged shingle. When roof shingles start to curl, buckle, and crack regularly, it is a warning that the roof needs replacement. Roof shingles can curl and buckle as a result of extreme temperature changes or accumulation of moisture. Cracked shingles often result from wind damage.

In addition to cracking and curling, another sign of aging roof shingles is excessive shedding of granules. Roofs normally shed granules, but when the gutters become filled with granules, it means the roof has started to lose its effectiveness as a barrier against the elements.

2.   Bowing or sagging roof

A dip in the roof is a sure sign that it needs to be replaced. Depending on how deep the depression on the roof surface, it may or may not be visible from inside the home. A sagging roof usually occurs when there is a shift in the underlying structures that support the roof. This could be the internal structures of the roof or the home’s foundations. Other times, sagging can also be caused by the excessive weight of snow.

3.   Roof rot

If the wood in the interior part of the roof is exposed to moisture for

prolonged periods, it will rot. Rot encourages the growth of fungi and attracts pests that accelerate the deterioration of the wood. There are several sign landlords can look out for which reveal the presence of rotting wood in a home’s roof.

They include a sagging roof deck, evidence of water damage on the ceiling, openings in the roof (missing shingles or torn flashing), algae growth on the wood deck, and the presence of mold in the attic (particularly if the attic insulation is also soaked with water).

4.   Regular roof leaks

A home’s roof can spring leaks for a variety of reasons. A leaky roof is not a sign that the roof needs to be replaced. Roof leaks happen for a range of reasons. But when leaks become a common occurrence and the roof has undergone several repairs, it may be time to change the entire roof.

The type of events that landlords should look out for in connection with a leaking roof includes water intrusion, water pooling on the roof surface, dark streaks, or stains on the underside of the roof, and dark streaks running down the interior & exteriors walls. Depending on the extent of the leak and the underlying causes, the whole roof may not require changing, but only a section of it might need simple roof leak repair.

5.   Growths on the roof

Anything growing on a roof can damage it. The most common growths

found on roofs are mold, mildew, algae, and moss. Moss allows moisture to accumulate on the roof’s surface; this predisposes the roof to wood rot. Algae eat away at the shingles by metabolizing the materials they are made of.

This makes the roof brittle, porous, and susceptible to rot. Mold is one of the clearest signs a roof is suffering from water damage. Mold growing on the roof and its interior structures will cause the wood to weaken and attract pests into the roof. Mildew only grows on wet surfaces; if it is found on the roof, it means the roof is already exposed to water damage.

Finally, if there is an inexplicable spike in the home’s energy costs, then the roof may have lost its efficiency. Also if a roof is nearing the end of its useful life, it should be replaced.

Denver Decra Stone Coated Steel Installation

Out with the old curled up wood shake roof! In with the new Class 4 Decra Stone Coated Steel roof! This new roof looks shake-like and is absolutely stunning. This home looks new again.

This is a neighborhood called Columbine Knolls South and the HOA requires homeowners to replace their old wood shake roofs with something that is safer, longer-lasting, and fits the original look and feel of the neighborhood. The answer to these requirements is Decra Stone Coated steel roofing, installed by New Roof Plus.

Stone-coated steel offers a home or building owner a long list of benefits. The greatest benefit is its durability. As a Class 4 rated roofing material, it can withstand hail that other roofs can not handle. Same for wind resistance. We just had a super-strong wind event here in the Denver area and many roofs lost a lot of shingles. Not so with a properly installed stone coated Decra roof from New Roof Plus.

This material is also Class 4 rated for fire protection. A serious concern if you live in a wooded or mountainous area here in Colorado. This material will not burn.

The Decra stone-coated steel installation process is designed to secure the metal sections to the roof. As you can see in this picture of a home getting  a new roof in Littleton, at the preparation stage, battens are secured to the roof to tie-in each section of the new metal roofing system.

Columbine Knolls South is similar to many other HOA’s in Denver. They want a secure neighborhood that has consistent quality expectations for all homes in the HOA or POA.  If your HOA or POA is eliminating wood shake as an option, let us know and we can help you design the new look that can give your house back it’s “Wow!”

Heritage Eagle Bend Roofing Company

Heritage Eagle Bend, located in Aurora Colorado, is a beautiful 55+ gated community located just off Gartrell Road and E-470. Hail is a frequent visitor to this area so homeowners are searching regularly for a roofing company for roof repair or replacement that is honest, trusted, experienced, and friendly – plus COVID safety conscious!

If your roof has hail damage and you need an inspection, New Roof Plus is a good company to call.  Here’s why:

• Certified Roof Inspectors
• Great reviews
• Social Safe – we will keep our distance if you prefer!
• Experienced with Insurance work
• Excellent craftsmanship

You can call us at (303) 974-5218 for a Free Inspection from a certified roof inspector. New Roof Plus is preferred by many organizations and insurance companies because we are professional and extremely focused on making sure the customer is very happy. Our reviews on Google and the BBB tell the story best. If you own a home in Heritage Eagle Bend and you think you might have hail damage, give us a call and we can arrange a no-cost inspection.

As a preferred Heritage Eagle Bend Roofing Company, New Roof Plus can install any roof your home may have. Some homes in the community are duplex arrangements – we can help with this also. If the hail is new or old, we can provide a comprehensive roof inspection to let you know exactly what the condition is of your building.

Give us a call. We would love to help. And we will wear the funny mask too!

Hail Damaged Roof Repair in Denver CO

Hail damage roof repair to Denver rooftops is an annual event for many home and building owners. This picture is an asphalt shingle that took a good-sized hailstone hit. This home had hundreds of similar impact marks. The damage done includes removal of the protective granules that shed water. There are also small breaks to the fiberglass matting under the granules and asphalt layer.

Asphalt roofing in Denver is the most common roofing choice. It is typically the cheapest option. It’s pretty durable and comes in many colors and styles to suit most typical homes in the Denver metro area. If your home needs hail damage roof repair in Denver you have a few options. An inspection will let you know if the roof has damage that requires either repair or replacement. Asphalt shingles are difficult to repair and usually, replacement is required.

Asphalt shingles in Colorado have a weakness – hail. These shingles are generally soft and can be easily torn by hand – especially when warm. There are many other roofing choices but most people don’t want to pay the extra money to get the upgraded protection.

There are Hail Proof Roofing options to consider. They are more

expensive, the color choices are limited but the protection is unparalleled. Class 4 rated roofing options give you more protection against wind and hail.  Some are better than others. You generally get a more impressive shingle – one that has more depth, texture, and architectural appeal. The specific product we are talking about to be the most hail proof is made by Euroshield. They guarantee up to 4″ hail protection – that’s huge hail. Hail this size would shred an asphalt roof in seconds. It also comes with a 50 year warranty. That’s long enough!

Hail season is upon us. If your roof is leaking or you suspect it might have damage from last year, give us a call and as one of the top roofing companies in Englewood, we can help you assess your situation – at no cost to you.