7 Signs Your Roof Needs Replacement

1. Shingles curling, cupping or clawing

Edges turning up (curling) or centers lifting (clawing) mean the shingle mat has dried and shrunk. This is end-of-life behavior — repairs buy little time once it's widespread.

2. Granules filling your gutters

Some granule loss is normal after installation and after hail. But steady accumulation in gutters and at downspout splash blocks — especially with shiny exposed asphalt visible on shingles — means the protective layer is going.

3. Missing or wind-lifted shingles

A few tabs after a windstorm can be repaired. Repeated losses across the roof suggest the sealant strips have failed overall, and every storm will take more.

4. Flashing rust, gaps or tar patches

Flashing around chimneys, walls and valleys fails before good shingles do. Layers of roofing tar are a sign someone has been chasing leaks rather than fixing the detail properly.

5. Sagging lines

A ridge or plane that visibly dips indicates structural or decking problems underneath. This one moves from "maintenance" to "get it assessed promptly."

6. Evidence in the attic

Daylight through boards, damp insulation, water staining on the underside of decking, or frost buildup in winter all point to roof or ventilation failures that shingle-level fixes won't solve.

7. Age plus storm history

An architectural asphalt roof in Minnesota that has passed its second decade and sat through several hail seasons deserves a baseline inspection even if it "looks fine" from the driveway — damage is often invisible from the ground.

Repair or replace?

One or two of these signs, localized: repair is often reasonable. Multiple signs, widespread: replacement usually wins economically, because serial repairs on a dying roof cost more than they save. An honest assessment tells you which side of the line you're on — ours are free.