Most homeowners never receive a roof age in writing. You can get a useful estimate from the ground with a pair of binoculars, a look at the paperwork that came with the house, and a few known signs.
Check the paperwork first
The original building permit, the closing documents, an invoice from a previous owner, or a home inspection report will often date the roof exactly. It is the only method that gives you a real number rather than an impression.
Failing that, the style of the shingle can help: the change from three-tab to laminated profiles shows up in a dated neighbourhood.
Granule loss in the gutters
Granules collect where the water goes. A handful of grit in the gutter is normal after a new roof; a steady accumulation year after year is the surface shedding its UV protection.
Once the granules are gone from the slopes that face the sun, the asphalt underneath is already aging fast.
Curling, lifting and the shadow line
Shingles that curl at the edges, lift in the middle, or show a wavy shadow line across a slope are telling you about heat, ventilation and flexibility at the same time. Curling edges usually mean the asphalt has dried out.
Wide, even curling across a whole slope points to ventilation. Localised curling around a chimney or a valley points to a flashing or water problem.
Staining and biological growth
Dark streaking is algae, and it usually appears a few years into a roof’s life in humid climates. Moss and lichen take longer and indicate shade and moisture staying on the surface.
Neither tells you the roof’s age on its own, but both tell you the surface is holding water it should be shedding.
When to stop guessing
From the ground you can get within a few years, which is enough to decide whether protection is worth pricing. It is not enough to decide eligibility for a treatment: that needs the surface measured.
Our free assessment scores the roof and confirms the material, then tells you which treatment, if any, fits.
Source
Written for Dr. Armor. The original GoNano article this guide draws on: Estimating your roof’s age without climbing a ladder
Questions
Common questions, answered in full
- How long does roof rejuvenation last?Coverage runs from 3 to 20 years, and the roof’s condition score decides which.
- Can you treat a roof that is leaking?No. A leak is a repair job and has to be fixed before any treatment.
- What does the warranty cover?Peeling, curling or warping caused by the treatment, and water getting through.