10 Warning Signs You Need a New Roof and When a Repair Is Enough

Spotting signs you need a new roof early can be the difference between a simple patch and a costly replacement.

While some issues, like a few missing shingles, are often repairable, others, such as widespread shingle curling or advanced age, point to a bigger problem.

This guide cuts through the confusion, explaining 10 key warning signs and helping you determine if a repair is enough or if a full roof replacement is necessary.

Age is a critical factor, as all roofing materials have a limited lifespan. As a roof gets old, its seals become brittle and its water protection begins to fail.

Pouring money into repairs for a roof that is already past its serviceable life is rarely a sound investment.

Different roof types for your home have different lifespans. Asphalt shingles last 20-25 years.

Wood shakes last 25-30 years, while metal can last 50-70 years. Tile roofs can last over 50 years. However, their underlayment often fails much sooner.

If your roof is young and has one minor issue, a repair is all you need.

If your roof is near or past its lifespan, any big failure points to a replacement.

Curling, cracking, and buckling are definitive signs of advanced age and weather exposure. While they often appear together, each signals a specific type of failure:

• Curling or Clawing happens as shingles dry out, shrink, and break their waterproof seal, causing the edges to turn up or down.
• Cracking is typically the result of direct wind or hail damage.
• Buckling creates a wavy look and signals a more serious issue: moisture trapped beneath the shingles.

Isolated damage in one small area can typically be repaired. However, if the damage is widespread, it's a sign the entire roof is failing. The roof has reached the end of its life, and a full replacement is required.

High winds can rip shingles clean off the roof, leaving the underlayment exposed. After a major windstorm, it's best to scan your roof from the ground for any missing sections.

If you need a closer look, always review proper ladder safety guidelines before climbing.

Replacing a few missing shingles is typically a simple repair, provided the rest of the roof is in good condition.

The problem arises when the surrounding shingles are too brittle. If a roofer attempts to lift them and they crack, the roof is too old to be repaired, and a full replacement is necessary.

Flashing is the metal seal at roof joints. If it fails, it creates a direct path for water. Look for rust stains, bent metal, or cracked sealant around chimneys, vents, and skylights.

If the shingles are fine, a roofer can replace the bad flashing. This involves lifting shingles, laying new metal, and re-shingling the area.

If the flashing failure is widespread and the roof is old, it is better to replace everything at once.

This indicates your shingles are shedding their protective granule layer, compromising their UV protection. These granules are essential for shielding the asphalt from direct sunlight. Without this layer, sun exposure will rapidly

accelerate shingle decay and lead to premature failure.

Check your gutters and downspouts. A few granules are normal, but a thick "sludge" or piles of granules are a major red flag.

This is not a repairable issue. You cannot put granules back on. Widespread granule loss means your roof needs a replacement.

Water stains on your ceilings or walls are serious signs of a roof leak. By the time a stain is visible, water has already penetrated the roof and likely soaked the decking and insulation.

Do not just paint over the stain; you must find the source. Carefully take a flashlight into the attic to look for wet insulation or rotted wood.

If the roof is young and the leak is from a single source, you can get an emergency roof repair.

You need a new roof if the leak is from widespread failure. A spongy or rotted roof deck also means you need a replacement.

A sagging roof is a structural failure and a safety hazard. It means the plywood decking under your shingles is rotted and waterlogged.

This is never a simple repair. It is a serious safety issue.

Call a professional immediately. This is a 100% full replacement that will also involve new decking.

This means moisture is trapped on your roof. Dark streaks, or algae, are mostly cosmetic but can be a sign of moisture. Thick green moss is a bigger problem. It holds water against the shingles and causes rot.

Algae and moss can often be removed, but this is only a solution if the shingles underneath are still sound. For asphalt roofs, it is critical to use safe, non-damaging removal methods that specifically exclude high-pressure washing, which will cause damage.

However, if moss has been present for years, the shingles below are likely already curled or cracked. At that point, the damage is permanent, and the roof will need to be replaced.

On a tile roof, a cracked or slipped tile exposes the delicate underlayment underneath. Look for visible cracks or tiles that have slid out of place.

If just a few tiles are damaged from an impact, a roofer can replace individual tiles.

If your tiles look fine but you have a leak, your underlayment has failed. This requires a "lift and re-lay," which is a full replacement project that must follow official installation standards.

Storms can cause immediate damage that needs an inspection. Hail damage looks like "bruises" or "dents" on shingles. Wind damage shows up as creased or lifted shingles.

If you see these, call your insurance company and a roofer for an inspection. Do not wait; insurance claims are time-sensitive.

A repair is fine if the damage is minimal and in one small area.

If the damage is widespread, your insurance may cover a full replacement.

Seeing a warning sign does not always mean a total replacement. A few missing shingles can be a simple repair, but widespread granule loss or a sagging deck means your roof's life is over.

You can't be sure from the ground, so get a professional opinion from California Home Center.

As a trusted local expert in roofing services in Temecula, we can schedule your free inspection today. See examples of our recent work and schedule your free inspection today.

You can know by looking for key signs. These include widespread shingle damage like curling or cracking, a sagging roof deck, or interior water stains. If your roof is past its 20-25 year lifespan, it likely needs a replacement.

An asphalt shingle roof is "too old" when it reaches 20-25 years. Other materials last longer, but this age is the key benchmark for replacement.

Curling shingles mean your roof is old and has significant heat or weather damage. The shingles are drying out, shrinking, and breaking their waterproof seal.

Yes, in most cases, a few missing shingles can be repaired. A roofer can easily install new shingles in the bare spots. A replacement is only needed if the surrounding shingles are too old and brittle to work on.

Hail damage looks like dark "bruises" or "dents" on asphalt shingles. It can also cause cracking and will knock off large amounts of shingle granules, which you will find in your gutters.