Warning signs your Bolingbrook home needs a new roof. Age, leaks, curling shingles, granule loss, and storm damage.
Most roofs in Bolingbrook do not fail all at once. They give warnings for a few years first. Here are the signs to look for, what they mean, and how the age and style of homes in Bolingbrook change the picture.
Bolingbrook homes at a glance
Bolingbrook was incorporated in 1965 and its first subdivisions, Westbury and Colonial Village, date from that decade. The village kept building through the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, so the housing runs from compact 1960s ranches to large newer two-story homes.
The older Bolingbrook ranches have low-slope roofs with long eaves. Low slopes shed water slowly, so underlayment and ice barrier matter more here than on a steep roof.
What to expect from the roof on your Bolingbrook home
In Westbury, Colonial Village and the other original 1960s neighborhoods, the roof has probably been replaced two or three times already. Check when the last one was done. Low-slope sections over additions and porches wear out first and are often the only part that needs attention.
In the subdivisions added through the 1970s and 1980s, watch the joints where a lower roof meets an upper wall, common on split-levels and raised ranches. Staining on the wall or ceiling below that joint means the step flashing has failed, which can sometimes be repaired without a full roof.
In the newer neighborhoods built in the 1990s and 2000s, if the house still has its first roof, it is at or near the end of its life. Builder shingles from that period were often the lightest grade. Curling on the south slope and granules in the gutters are the usual first signs.
Where Bolingbrook roofs wear out first
On the older Bolingbrook ranches, look at the eaves. Long, low overhangs are where ice dams form, and repeated ice shows up as rotted fascia, stained soffit and curled shingle edges along the bottom two rows. On newer homes, the first-generation roof is simply reaching its age.
The signs, from early to urgent
- Granules in the gutters. A little is normal on a new roof. A steady supply on an older roof means the shingles are wearing thin.
- Curling or cupping shingle edges. The shingles have dried out and will start to lift in wind.
- Cracked or missing shingles. A few can be replaced. Many, across several slopes, means the roof is brittle.
- Dark streaks and moss. Streaks are algae and mostly cosmetic. Moss holds water against the shingles and lifts their edges.
- Rusted or lifted flashing. Around chimneys, walls and vents, this is where most leaks start.
- Daylight or damp wood in the attic. Look on a bright day and again after rain.
- Ceiling stains or a sagging roof line. Water is already inside. Call now.
Repair or replace?
Repair makes sense when the damage is in one area and the rest of the roof has years left: a few shingles, a pipe boot, one run of flashing. Replace when the shingles are brittle across the roof, when leaks appear in more than one place, or when storm damage is widespread enough for an insurance claim. We will tell you which one you have and show you the photos.
How long roofs last here
Illinois weather is hard on asphalt: hot summers, freeze and thaw, hail and wind. Architectural shingles commonly last 20 to 30 years in this climate, and older three-tab shingles less. Good attic ventilation adds years; a hot, unvented attic takes them away. More detail in how long asphalt shingles last in Illinois.
Permits in Bolingbrook
Permit rules are set by the Village of Bolingbrook. We check what your project needs and pull the permit when one is required. See our Bolingbrook page for this service, or the same guide for Naperville, or the same guide for Romeoville.
Common questions
Call (331) 250-3726 or request a free consultation in Bolingbrook.