Your roof doesn't send you a text when it's ready to retire. It drops hints. Some of them are obvious, and some are so subtle you'd never notice unless you knew what to look for.
The tricky part? Some things that look like major problems are actually no big deal. And some things that seem minor are actually screaming for attention.
After replacing over 7,200 roofs across the Colorado Front Range, we've seen it all. Here are the eight real signs you need a new roof, plus three that don't mean what most people think.
The 8 Real Signs You Need a New Roof
1. Your Shingles Are Curling or Buckling
This is one of the clearest signs your roof is aging out. When shingles start curling at the edges or buckling in the middle, they've lost their ability to protect your home from water infiltration.
In Colorado, this happens faster than in milder climates. Our intense UV exposure at altitude, combined with freeze and thaw cycles, accelerates shingle deterioration. If you're seeing widespread curling across multiple sections of your roof, it's time for a conversation about replacement.
A few curled shingles in one spot? That might be a repair. Curling across the whole roof? That's a replacement. roof replacement
2. Granules Are Filling Your Gutters
Those tiny pebble like granules on your shingles aren't decorative. They're the UV shield that protects the asphalt underneath. When granules start washing off into your gutters in large quantities, your shingles are losing their protective layer.
It's normal to see some granule loss on a brand new roof. That's just loose manufacturing residue. But if your roof is more than a few years old and you're finding piles of granules every time you clean the gutters, your shingles are breaking down.
3. You Can See Daylight Through the Roof Boards
Head up to your attic on a sunny day and turn off the lights. If you can see pinpoints of light coming through the roof deck, moisture is getting in too. This usually means the underlayment and shingles have both failed.
This is an urgent one. If light is getting through, water is getting through. And water in your attic leads to mold, rotted decking, and damaged insulation.
4. Your Roof Is 20+ Years Old
Most asphalt shingle roofs in Colorado last between 15 and 25 years, depending on the shingle quality and how much hail they've absorbed over the decades. If your roof was installed 20 or more years ago and you've never had it replaced, it's living on borrowed time.
Even if it looks okay from the ground, an aging roof often has hidden problems. The underlayment breaks down. Flashing corrodes. Nail seals fail. A professional inspection can reveal what you can't see from the driveway. schedule a free inspection
5. Multiple Leaks in Different Areas
One leak in one spot is usually a repair. Multiple leaks in different areas of the house? That's a systemic failure. Your roof isn't leaking because one shingle blew off. It's leaking because the entire system is failing.
We see this a lot with roofs that have survived several hailstorms without being replaced. Each storm does a little more damage, and eventually the roof just can't hold water out anymore.
6. Your Roof Deck Is Sagging
If your roofline looks wavy or saggy instead of straight, that's a structural concern. Sagging usually means moisture has been getting into the decking for a long time, causing the wood to rot and weaken.
This one can't wait. A sagging roof deck means the structural integrity of your roof is compromised. You need a professional out there quickly to assess the damage and determine if the decking needs to be replaced along with the shingles. roof inspection
7. Your Energy Bills Keep Climbing
A failing roof doesn't just let water in. It lets conditioned air out. If your heating and cooling bills have been creeping up and you can't figure out why, your roof's ventilation and insulation system may be compromised.
Poor roof ventilation also causes ice dams in winter, which cause even more damage. It's a cycle that only gets worse until you address the root cause.
8. You've Had Three or More Repairs in Five Years
Roof repairs are a normal part of homeownership. But if you're calling a roofer every year or two for another patch job, those repair costs are adding up fast. At some point, you're throwing good money after bad.
A general rule of thumb: if repair costs are approaching 30% of what a full replacement would cost, the replacement makes more financial sense. You get a brand new warranty, better materials, and you stop the cycle of constant fixes.
3 Things That Don't Mean What You Think
1. A Few Missing Shingles After a Windstorm
Lost a shingle or two in a big windstorm? That's not necessarily a sign your whole roof needs replacing. Wind damage is often localized, and a skilled roofer can replace individual shingles or small sections without touching the rest.
Now, if the wind blew off shingles across the entire roof, that's different. But a few missing shingles in one area is usually a straightforward repair.
2. Dark Streaks on Your Roof
Those black or dark green streaks running down your roof look alarming, but they're usually just algae. Algae growth is cosmetic. It doesn't damage your shingles or shorten your roof's lifespan in any meaningful way.
You can have the streaks cleaned if they bother you, but they're not a sign you need a new roof. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
3. Your Neighbor Got a New Roof
This one comes up more than you'd think. Your neighbor across the street just got a beautiful new roof, and suddenly yours looks shabby by comparison. But your neighbor's roof situation has nothing to do with yours.
Their roof might have been ten years older. They might have had damage you couldn't see. Or they might have just wanted an upgrade. Unless your roof is showing actual signs of failure, there's no reason to replace it just because the Joneses did.
Not Sure Where You Stand? Request a Free Inspection & Estimate
The best way to know if you need a new roof is to have a professional take a look. At Gates Enterprises, we provide honest, no pressure inspections. We'll tell you exactly what we see, whether that means you need a replacement, a repair, or nothing at all.
With over 7,200 roofs completed and quadruple certification from GAF, CertainTeed, Malarkey, and Emerald Premium, we know Colorado roofs inside and out. We serve the entire Front Range from our Lakewood headquarters.
Call us at (720) 766-3377 or contact us to schedule your free roof inspection today.