Signs you need a new roof

Look at the shingles

• Curling or cupping: edges that lift or centers that dish mean the shingles have dried and lost their seal, leaving them prone to wind and water.
• Cracked or missing shingles: scattered loss can be repaired; widespread cracking across the slope points to age, not a single event.
• Bald spots and granules in the gutters: the protective granules wash off as shingles wear, so a gutter full of them is a roof shedding its surface.
• Dark streaks or moss: usually cosmetic algae, but heavy moss can lift shingles and hold moisture against the roof.

Check inside and up close

• Ceiling stains: brown rings or spreading stains on upstairs ceilings mean water is getting past the roof.
• Attic clues: daylight through the roof boards, damp insulation, or a musty smell after rain all point to an active leak.
• Flashing failures: many leaks start at the flashing around chimneys, vents, and valleys rather than the shingles themselves.

Don't ignore the roofline

Stand back and look at the ridgeline. A roofline that sags or dips is not a shingle problem; it suggests trapped moisture, rotted decking, or a structural issue underneath, and it needs a professional inspection promptly. A sagging roof can go from a repair to a major job quickly once water has been working on the deck.

What to do next

• Get a professional inspection with photos; many roofers offer it free, and you want to see the damage yourself.
• If the roof is old and showing several of these signs at once, price a replacement rather than a patch.
• If a storm caused the damage, document it before any work; it may be a covered insurance claim.