Your roof plays a critical role in helping to keep your home and everything in it safe from the elements. If you built your house, then you probably have a good record of the roof installation and a general idea of when the roof may need to be redone. However, if you bought your house, you might not know the exact history of the roof and when it should be replaced. So, how will you know when it’s time to replace your roof? Three Revealing Signs Your Roof Needs to Be Replaced 1. Roof “Age Spots” Roofs have ways of visibly showing their age. And, although older roofs may continue to keep the elements out, they may be more vulnerable to damage due to wear and tear over the years. Signs of an aging roof can often be observed from ground level, and sometimes a convenient second-floor window offers a bird’s eye view of the shingles. It’s always best to leave any on-roof inspections to the professionals. Here are seven indications that your roof may be past its prime: Uneven shingles. Asphalt shingles are meant to lie flat with no edges to catch the wind or interfere with water runoff. Cupped shingles with concave centers, wavy surfaces, and ragged or curled shingle edges are all signs that a roof is past its prime. Bald shingles. The granular coating on asphalt shingles helps to protect them from the elements, such as harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Roof shingles that are losing or have lost their granules are more exposed to UV rays, potentially causing them to age faster and become brittle. Cracked shingles. Over the years, UV ray exposure from the sun may cause roof shingles to “dry out” and crack on the surface. Discoloration. The color of your roofing shingles may fade over the years due to UV degradation, another sign of an aging roof. Dark streaks. While dark streaks on your roof may be more of an aesthetic problem, they’re an indication of algae growth on your roof. Lichen growth, which occurs with a combination of algae and fungus, can eventually damage shingles and their protective granules. A homeowner’s first step should be to have a professional clean and inspect their roof to check the condition of the shingles and see if a repair or reroof is necessary. Moss. The roots of moss are much larger than those found in lichens. Too much moss on your roof can speed up the loss of granules. Moss also retains water, adding weight, and keeping your roof in constant contact with water. As with shingle discolorations, a roof inspection and cleaning can help determine the health of the shingles beneath the moss. Time. While properly installed, high-quality asphalt shingles can provide two to three decades of protection, constant exposure to the elements eventually takes its toll, and they need to be replaced. According to InterNACHI’s Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes , the life expectancy for architectural asphalt roofing shingles is 30 years and 20 years for three-tab asphalt shingles. Stay Tuned For Roof Replacement Signs#2 https  : //ww w.ow enscor n ing.com/en-us/r oofi n g /to ol s/when-to-replace-your-roof