REPAIR & MAINTENANCE

Annually, ideally in spring once freeze-thaw damage has shown itself, plus after any significant hail or wind event. Most problems are cheap when caught early and expensive when caught by a ceiling stain.

Under about 15 years with localised damage, repair is usually honest. Past 20, or with problems across several areas, repairing is paying twice. A free inspection should tell you which side of that line your roof sits on.

Clearing valleys and gutters, fixing flashing before it leaks, and correcting attic ventilation. Those three cost a fraction of a replacement and are frequently the difference between 18 years and 25 out of the same shingle.

Usually not, unless the load is genuinely excessive or you have active ice dam leaking. Roof rakes damage shingles when used aggressively, and fixing the attic is a better use of the money than managing snow every winter.

Granules accumulating in gutters, shingle edges beginning to curl, and damp or dark staining on the underside of the attic decking. All three appear well before anything reaches a ceiling.

Dark algae streaking is largely cosmetic and common on shaded north slopes. Moss is different, because it holds moisture against the shingle and lifts edges, so it is worth removing carefully rather than leaving.