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Age and weather are key factors in the longevity of your roofing materials. So when is it time to replace your roof? Here are four indicators. 

Water Stains in the Attic

When checking for issues with your roof, if you think that the first course of action is to go outside and scan your roof, you would be mistaken. The first area to investigate is actually the attic, according to BobVila.com. Once there, look for rays of light shining through the top of your house—obvious indicators of breaches in your roofing. Also, check for stains and streaks on the ceiling of your attic, which is evidence of water penetration.

Damaged Shingles 

Give your exterior roof a long hard look. Your shingles should lie flat. If you spot large areas where shingles have lifted, or become displaced or cracked, then repairs are necessary—or perhaps roof replacement, depending on the extent of the damage. Be sure to check your roof after particularly heavy storms. Make sure you also check your gutters and downspouts for shingle granules, which mean your shingles are losing their surface and your roof could be at the end of its useful life.

 It's Reached It's Lifespan

Even though your roof may appear to be in decent condition, be sure to check your home improvement documents to see when it was replaced or re-shingled to know how much life it has left. The average asphalt shingle roof has a lifespan between 20 and 25 years, per BobVila.com. An asphalt shingle roof that's installed over top of an existing layer of shingles is likely to need to be replaced after 20 years. 

Damaged Flashing 

Things like chimneys, skylights, and plumbing vents on your roof are surrounded by flashing, often made of roof cement or tar (in older homes), which helps protect against leaks around these kinds of roof penetrations by sealing the seams from rain and weather. Check the flashing around those areas to make sure there aren’t any cracks or breaks present, which can cause leaks. If your flashing is made of roof cement or tar, it's wise to upgrade to metal flashing for increased durability.