Warning signs your Romeoville home needs a new roof. Age, leaks, curling shingles, granule loss, and storm damage.
Most roofs in Romeoville 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 Romeoville change the picture.
Romeoville homes at a glance
Romeoville's first big neighborhood, Hampton Park, went up in the late 1950s and 1960s. The village then grew again from the 1990s on, with subdivisions such as Weslake and Lakewood Falls, so it has two very different sets of homes.
Simple gable roofs on the Hampton Park ranches are quick to replace. The newer two-story homes are larger and steeper, and many are on their first roof, now at the age to check.
What to expect from the roof on your Romeoville home
In Hampton Park and the other original 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 Weslake, Lakewood Falls and the other subdivisions built since the 1990s, 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 Romeoville roofs wear out first
In Hampton Park, most roofs have been replaced several times, so the question is how old the current one is and whether it went on over an older layer. In the newer subdivisions, the first roof is now about 20 years old. Curling on the south slope and bare spots where granules have washed away are the signs to act on.
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 Romeoville
Permit rules are set by the Village of Romeoville. We check what your project needs and pull the permit when one is required. See our Romeoville page for this service, or the same guide for Bolingbrook, or the same guide for Lockport.
Common questions
Call (331) 250-3726 or request a free consultation in Romeoville.