One of the first things a client often asks is how old their roof is. Determining the age of a roof can be challenging since there really is no sticker or MFG date to refer to. While it can be tricky, there are some things you and your home inspector can do to figure out the approximate age of a roof:
1: This one may seem obvious – ask the seller for paperwork from when the roof was installed. If they have it – then problem solved!
2: If the seller doesn’t have any paperwork, then look at the shingles themselves. If they are 3-tab shingles, then they are likely to be about 15+ years old. If they are architectural, then usually under 20 years old.
3: Look at the condition of the shingles. The more granular loss and wear on the shingles, the older they usually are.
Ultimately, the real test of a roof is its function – does it leak or not? If a roof is 20 years old but in good shape and functioning, it is much better than a newer roof that isn’t functioning.
