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How Old Is Your Roof? 6 Ways To Find The Age Of Your Roof

Moving into a new home is exciting, but it can be full of surprises. Suddenly your refrigerator stopped working, you…
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Jacob Wadding
how old is your roof outside

Moving into a new home is exciting, but it can be full of surprises. Suddenly your refrigerator stopped working, you really need to install a fence in the backyard, and you have no idea if you need to budget for a new roof soon.

If you weren’t the one to schedule the original roof replacement, you’re probably wondering, “how old is my roof?” It can be tricky to discover the exact age of your roof, but use these six tips to narrow it down:

  • Asking the previous owners 🏠
  • Contacting the roofing company that did the job πŸ“ž
  • Inquiring with your neighbors πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦
  • Referencing building permit records πŸ“‘
  • Looking for signs of roof damage πŸ”
  • Getting a professional roofing inspection πŸ‘·

1) Ask the Previous Homeowners

During the home buying process, you can have your realtor get the approximate roof age from the sellers. But if you forgot to inquire about the roof during the process, that’s okay. If it’s shortly after the sale process, you might be able to still ask the previous homeowners.

You can reach out to your real estate agent and have them ask the previous homeowners if they had the roof replaced at some point while they lived there. If they didn’t, you’ll at least know that the roof is older than the amount of time the previous homeowners lived there.

2) Contact the Roofing Company (If You Know It)

The previous homeowners may not know exactly when they had their roof replaced or repaired, but they may remember the roofing company that completed the project. If you’re clued into who performed the roof work, you may be onto something.

You can call the roofing contractor that did the work, explain your situation, and see if they can tell you when the roof was last replaced. Most professional companies keep records of all their work, so they may be able to provide a receipt.

However, if the previous homeowners used a local handyman to do the work instead of a professional company, you may be out of luck with referencing old receipts.

how old is your roof blue house

3) See If Your Neighbors Remember

If you live in a smaller city or town that doesn’t have a ton of roofing contractors in the area, it might be worth asking your neighbors. As you introduce yourself to your new neighbors, ask them if they remember your home getting a new roof in recent years.

You can also ask if they remember seeing yard signs or wrapped trucks for a certain roofing company. If they remember the name of the roofing company that worked on the house, you can try the above method and call the company to ask for a record of their work.

4) Reference the City’s Building Permit Records

Something else you can try is referencing archived building permits in your city. Each city and county has different rules, and some municipalities may require building permits before any major construction work, like roof installations.

These permits are often public records, and they can indicate:

  • The date of the project
  • Inspection documents
  • The contractor who completed the project

You may even have a copy of this permit included with other documents pertaining to your new house!

5) Look for Signs of Roof Damage

If none of these other methods are proving fruitful, you can take matters into your own hands. When roofs start to age, they show quintessential signs of damage. Keep in mind that if you have an asphalt shingle roof (like most homes in the country do), the expected lifespan is 15-25 years.

If you feel comfortable, you can get up on a ladder (safely and with the help of a friend!) to look for some of the tell-tale signs of an aging roof:

  • Missing shingles
  • Cracked or damaged shingles
  • Shingle granule loss
  • Damaged flashing around edges and the chimney
  • Discoloration or the appearance of algae
  • Sagging roof deck
  • Rusted gutters
  • Leaks inside your home when it rains
  • Water stains on your walls or ceiling

Even just one of these signs of damage alone warrants scheduling roofing service, so be sure to act especially fast if you notice multiple of these signs on your roof. If you notice these issues, it’s highly likely that your roof has reached the end of its lifespan.

how old is your roof window

6) Get a Professional Roofing Inspection

Last but not least, if you’re unable to get the exact or approximate date of the last time your roof was replaced, your best bet is to schedule a professional roofing inspection. Many reputable roofing contractors will offer free inspections, so it’s well worth it to have someone come check out your roof.

You can also have a home inspector perform an inspection, but we recommend going with a roofing contractor because if you need immediate repairs or replacement, you’re able to schedule service with them right away.

Their professionally trained eyes will be able to give you an approximate age of your roof based on its structural integrity. Many of the details that a professional contractor can catch are hard to notice with an untrained eye.

Having the advice of a trustworthy roofer will be invaluable as you create a budget going forward.

We’re Here for You When You Need a New Roof

When you finally track down the approximate age of your roof, you might be hit with the surprise that you’re due for a total roof replacement soon. Thankfully, roof replacements don’t have to be scary or stressful when you work with ARCH Exteriors.

With flexible financing options, impressive warranties, and the friendliest service in Maryland, you can’t go wrong with the ARCH crew. Reach out today for a free inspection!

About the Author
Your home is probably the most expensive thing you own. When you hire somebody to make improvements, you want high-quality work. In addition, you hope they’ll take the same care you would. You want someone with a good reputation, legitimate credentials, well established, using quality materials, and who charges a fair price. For over 11 years, I have worked hard to provide all of those benefits to my clients. One of the major reasons we have been able to do that is our ability to keep highly qualified personnel. Our workers are well trained, properly motivated, and managed professionally. I make certain that I convey measurable systems and procedures that our team understands and can readily follow.

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