The question “How old is my roof?” can come up several times during home ownership. You may not remember the exact year your roof was installed, or you may have moved into a house that lacks any records to tell you the age of your roof.
You may also need to answer the question for your homeowner’s insurance or on any paperwork if you plan to sell your home.
In any case, knowing the age of your roof can be important. Luckily, there are some ways that you can discover the age of your roof.
How To Find Your Roof’s Age
Check your own records
Do you have documents from the roofing company that give you a year of the installation and any warranty information? If so, great. You can use that information to determine the age and status of your roof.
Ask your neighbors
Your neighbors may remember seeing your roof installed. They may even have had their roof replaced around the same time. Usually, because all the homes in a neighborhood are built together, it’s more likely that your roof will wear out around the same time your neighbor is ready for a new roof.
Check public records for your municipality
Many areas require a permit for roof construction, so, provided your roofing company filed the correct paperwork, it should be relatively easy to locate the permit for your address. This should also help you determine the contractor who completed your roof.
Check with your roofing company
If you remember the roofing company, you may be able to check with them to see when the roof was installed. They should be able to provide you with a receipt and information about any warranties that may still exist on the roof.
Do a visual inspection of your roof
This won’t be good enough for your homeowner’s insurance – they’ll likely send their own inspector out – but it will give you an idea of the condition of the roof. If you see moss or algae growing on your roof, if there are missing or curling shingles or if you have leaks, there’s a good chance that it’s time to replace your roof. Also, if you spot 3-tab shingles, that’s a sign that your roof is older and may be due for a replacement.
Ask for a proffessional roofing evaluation
Volpe Enterprises will be happy to come out and give you our professional opinion on the age of your roof and document any potential damage or issues that it may be having. Read more about roofing evaluations and the reason you should consider one.
Schedule Your Roof Evaluation Today
The Reason You Should Know Your Roof’s Age
In addition to needing the information for your homeowner’s insurance, the biggest reason you should know your roof’s age is so that you can plan for a new one. You don’t want to wait until your roof has sprung a leak or two to begin to consider the cost of roof replacement.
Need a roofing evaluation or have concerns about the age of your roof? Contact Volpe Enterprises, and we’ll give you our honest opinion on the condition of your roof.
