Unless you purchased your house when it was newly built, you probably won’t know exactly how old your roof is. While it’s not essential information, it can help you anticipate certain problems and give you an inkling as to whether it’s time for a roof replacement.
In this post, we’ll discuss how to find out the age of your roof.
What is your roof made of?
In some cases, your roof’s materials can give you a rough idea of when it was installed.
Firstly, in terms of the covering. Slate roofs can last upwards of 100 years with the right maintenance, while clay tiles have a typical lifespan of 70 years and concrete a bit shorter. If your roof has clay or concrete tiles, that usually means it’s less than 70 years old.
Digging a little deeper, you can also get a clue from the use of roofing felt. Many roofs installed before the second world war (and some after) didn’t have felt underneath the tiles. Instead, tiles were back-pointed to keep them in place. (Mortar applied in the attic space)
If your roof doesn’t have felt, you can be pretty sure it’s been in place for upwards of 60 years. As a result, many of these roofs will have tiles slipping out of place over time as the pointing wears away.
All that said, the materials can only give you a rough estimate. Here are some ways to get a better idea of your roof’s age…
1. Ask the previous owners
Moving day doesn’t have to be the last time you speak to the previous owners. It’s useful to keep in touch with them at the very least so you can contact them about any of their post you get.
If you still have their number or email address, they usually won’t mind answering questions about the roof. They might have owned the house long enough to know when the roof was installed, or they could be able to point you in the direction of the previous owners.
2. Check the deeds
Your house’s deeds show the chain of ownership for the property you own. In some cases, they will include records of work that’s been done on the house, which could give you more information about the new roof – especially if it required planning permission.
However, the deeds can also give you information about previous owners if you’re looking to get in touch with them about the roof.
3. Get a roofing company to estimate
Having worked on hundreds of roofs over the years, experienced roofing companies know a fair bit about the age of a roof.
With a proper inspection, they will be able to give you a reliable estimate of a roof’s age and any issues you might be facing, those you can expect to face in the coming years and what you can do to protect your home.
Age is just a number
It’s important to consider the condition of your roof as well as how old it is. It could be 5 years old but in a poor condition due to shoddy installation – or 60 years old but still in good condition.
At DPR Roofing, we work with roofs of all ages throughout Barnsley, giving each job the same high level of care and attention. If you’re concerned about the age or condition of your roof, we’re only a phone call away. Contact our team today on 01226 670 008.