Shingles in Shambles? Here Are Roof-Related Problems You Don’t Want to Ignore

By Brenda Masse
Special Contributor

The roof is one of the five major parts of the house, so before purchasing a home, you’ll want to find out all you can about the current roof.

First, how old is it? The average lifespan of a roof in Texas is about 20 years, barring damage from major storms or other disasters. The cost to replace a roof depends on the size and materials used (asphalt shingles, slate, or metal). You can expect to spend between $90 to $300 per square foot, with asphalt being the least expensive material.

“If you run from a leaking roof you’ll end up with a flood.”

Last week a bullet, this week an arrow!

Make sure you find an inspector who will walk the roof — or, if the roof is pitched too steeply, ask for a drone inspection. Otherwise, the state of the roof is like a shot in the dark. (LOL, sorry.)

Flapping in The Breeze

This is a great example of damage you might miss from the ground. Here we have major wind damage going through to the decking. There’s likely already water damage underneath, so this will need immediate attention.

Over The Edge

This roofer may have had some vertigo. Can you see where the roof vent ends, the line veers off to the right? A call to the roofer who installed this roof could get that fixed right up.

Electrical Service Drops

Another thing that might be on your roof is the service drop, where the city’s electrical lines go into your house. Here, you can see the service drop was installed incorrectly. That hood should be pointed down so that rain doesn’t flow into the conduit with all those power lines. 

As with every other part of your house, it’s important to check how it’s performing from time to time. If your roof is aging or you suspect you have storm damage, call a roofer to perform an inspection.