Last Updated on May 23, 2025 by Tanya Janse van Rensburg
How do you know when you need a roof?
Well, if the wind ploughs the roof off your house, we’d say that’s a fairly obvious sign, but there are some more subtle signs that you may need to replace either your whole roof or parts of it.
If you’re wondering what signs you need to look out for that indicate your roof is due for a replacement, keep reading below.
One of the first signs that your roof needs replacing is if you’re having constant, serious leaks in different areas around the house.
Depending on the type of roofing you have, small leaks can be plugged or patched up quite quickly, so there’s no need to replace large portions of the roof in this case.
However, if the roof is experiencing consistent leaks, including new leaks from time to time, then this might indicate that it’s reached the end of its lifespan or has received damage from the weather or something.
If this is the case, it’s best to get up on your ceiling to examine where the leaks are coming from and what those leaks are.
If you have a metal roof with seams where the panels connect, check that the seams are sealed properly.
Sometimes dirt or debris gets into the seams between panels, allowing a gap for water to slip between.
Dark spots and mold generally develop in the ceiling or attic space where wood is involved.
Likewise, this wood needs to be regularly exposed to water to grow mould or turn black.
If you notice this, it's a serious problem as it generally means that the wood's structural integrity has been compromised and could break if pressure is applied, including the pressure of holding up your roof.
If the rot isn’t bad, you could strip the wood without having to rip off your whole roof.
However, if the structure holding up your roof looks like this, then that’s another story.
While cracked tiles are standard on specific roof types and can often just be swapped out, when you see multiple cracked tiles and tiles lifting off the roof by themselves, consider replacing the roof or at least a portion of it.
When you notice shingles cracking or warping, it's a sign that they have reached the end of their lifespan. If left, your roof will most likely start leaking and a number of other issues could develop.
This is a bit more of a subtle issue that you probably won’t notice until you get up onto the roof or at least to the gutters to check them.
If you have an asphalt roof, granules of asphalt in the shingles tend to loosen with age and fall into the gutter.
Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your roof is down, just that its effectiveness against water, UV-rays, and fire deteriorates.
So, you don’t have to suddenly rip off your roof and replace it, but you should start looking at doing so.
You might think that seeing plants growing out of your roof isn’t much of an issue, but it could be a sign of something bigger.
For vegetation to grow on your roof, it needs to have soil, dampness, and a place for its roots to grow and hold.
As the plants grow, their roots can cause tiles to lift, creating leaks or cracking your roof tiles.
Generally, this is a sign that you have an old roof and should be in the market for a new one.
Lastly, this one is straightforward. If there's a huge storm and hail or wind damages your roof beyond repair, then you’re going to have to consider getting a new roof.
Thankfully, in this case, insurance would probably cover the cost, depending on where you live, that is. In storm-prone areas, insurance sometimes doesn’t cover “acts of God”.
Replacing your roof is a large job, often requiring you to meet certain legal requirements.
Because of this, it’s helpful to have a professional oversee or perform the replacement of your roof.
If you’re looking for a reputable roofing company, consider AMJ Metal Roofing for roof replacements in Brisbane.
As professional roofing contractors in Brisbane, they can get your new roof up in no time and ensure that it meets any regulatory requirements, too.
To sum it up, if your roof is leaking in multiple places, roofing material is damaged and irreplaceable, or a storm has wrecked your roof completely, the chances are that you need to replace your roof.
Don’t leave problems to worsen with time.
It’s important to try your best to either maintain your roof so these issues don’t develop sooner, or replace it when they occur so other aspects of the house don’t get damaged too.
