What you can see from the ground
Walk around the building twice a year, in spring and fall. Binoculars help. These observations feed the decision to repair or replace a roof, well before the first leak.
On a sloped roof, look for:
- shingles with curling corners or a cupped centre
- split, broken or missing shingles
- darker patches where the granules are gone
- granules piling up in the gutters and at the foot of the downspouts
- rusty or loose flashing around the chimney
On a flat roof, the ground tells you less. Still look at the top of the walls for:
- water marks or whitish rings on the brick under the parapet
- metal coping that is bent, open at the joints or rusty
- water spilling over the edge during heavy rain
What you can see in the attic
If your house has an attic, look at it from the hatch, on a clear day, with a flashlight. Do not go in. Under the insulation, you cannot see where to put your feet. Do not touch insulation that looks like vermiculite.
- Daylight between the boards or around a vent.
- Dark stains or streaks on the wood of the decking and rafters.
- Rusty nails, or nails covered in frost in winter.
- Decking that warps or turns black.
- A musty smell.
What we see on the roof
Some signs only show up when walking on the surface and touching it.
On shingles:
- shingles that crack when lifted instead of bending
- a broken seal between the rows
- decking that gives underfoot
On an elastomeric membrane:
- surface granules gone, leaving the bitumen exposed to the sun
- seams opening between the sheets
- blisters, wrinkles or cracks
- upstands coming loose at the base of the parapets
One isolated sign or general wear?
A single one of these signs, in a single spot, calls for a repair. Several signs spread over the whole surface mean the roofing is at the end of its life.
The roof's age helps read these signs. Asphalt shingles last 15 to 30 years and an elastomeric membrane 25 to 35 years, depending on the manufacturer and the quality of installation. Granules in the gutters of a three-year-old roof are normal. On a twenty-year-old roof, the same granules say something else.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out how old my roof is?
Look for the invoice from the last roof work, or ask the previous owner. In boroughs where a permit was required, the application may have left a record. Failing that, ask us to estimate the age from the condition of the roofing.
Can I go up and check myself?
No, going up to check yourself is not recommended. The risk of falling is real, and walking on old roofing damages it. The ground, binoculars and the attic hatch already tell you a lot.
My roof shows signs of wear but does not leak. Is it urgent?
It is not necessarily urgent, but it is the right time to ask us for a visit. You will have time to compare quotes and choose the season for the work, instead of deciding in the rain.
How do I know if my roof needs replacing?
Look at the roof's age and how widespread the defects are. An isolated defect on a fairly young roof can be repaired. Widespread signs of wear across the roof, leaks that come back in different spots or roofing nearing the end of its lifespan point to replacement. We confirm it at the inspection.