No homeowner is champing at the bit to get a new roof, but when you need one, you need one. And it’s best not to wait. Ahead, we’ll look at the top signs that it may be time to consider a new roof for your home, including how to handle home insurance if your roof was damaged due to a sudden accident or act of nature.
Top Signs It’s Time for a New Roof 
1. Your attic is leaking.
Often, the biggest signs that you need a new roof are seen on the interior of your home, rather than the exterior alone. If you have noticed leaking in your attic or the upper floor level of your home, this may be due to rainwater or melting snow going through your roof through cracks and other weak areas.
2. The shingles are falling off or damaged.
Look at your roof from the street outside your home. What do you see? If there are many shingles that are broken, curled, bent, dark in color, or stained, this can mean considerable damage to your roof and a possible need for replacement. While some bent or broken shingles may mean that you simply need to replace those bad areas, if you have trouble spots all over your roof, it’s often better to simply replace the entire thing.
3. The paint on the outside and inside of your home is peeling or bubbling near the roof.
When a roof is leaking, the water can end up damaging paint on both the exterior and interior of your home. If you notice water stains or paint bubbling or cracking, this is a common sign of an old roof that needs to be replaced.
4. You’ve been noticing higher than average energy bills.
Leaky, old roofs often end up causing an undesirable change in temperature in your home. If your winter heating bills or summer cooling bills are higher than average, this may also signify the need for a roof replacement.
5. Your roof is old.
If your shingle roof is over 15 years old, it may be time to start thinking about a new one. Most shingle or composition roofs will last about 20 years maximum, while wood shake roofs may last 30 years. Special tile, copper or slate roofs can last for up to 50 years before needing replacing.
Lastly, remember that if your roof is simply old or deteriorating, home insurance won’t pay for a replacement. If an unexpected event like a terrible storm causes roof damage, however, you can appeal to your insurance company to see if the fix or replacement will be covered.