10 Signs You Need a New Roof in the Pacific Northwest

1. Granules collecting in the gutters

Asphalt shingles shed granules as they age. A handful is normal after a storm; a thick layer of black sandy material in every downspout means your shingles are nearing the end of their UV protection.

In Western Washington this typically happens around year 18–22 on a builder-grade roof, sooner on south-facing slopes.

2. Curled, cupped or clawed shingles

Healthy shingles lay flat. Once they curl up at the corners (cupping) or the edges lift (clawing), wind-driven rain gets underneath and the roof's watertight seal is gone.

If you can see curling from the street, the roof is past its service life — repairs are a band-aid.

3. Missing shingles after every windstorm

Losing one shingle in a 60-mph windstorm is bad luck. Losing several every winter means the asphalt has gotten brittle and the nails are no longer holding.

4. Dark streaks and heavy moss

Black streaks are algae; thick green pads are moss. Both hold moisture against your shingles and accelerate decay. A treatment can extend life by a few years, but if moss has lifted shingles or rotted decking underneath, you're looking at replacement.

5. Visible sagging in the ridge or between rafters

Any dip you can see from the ground means the deck below has absorbed water and lost structural integrity. This is a safety issue, not a maintenance issue.

6. Water stains on ceilings or in the attic

Brown rings on the ceiling, daylight visible through the attic, or damp insulation — all signs the roof's water barrier has failed somewhere.

7. Flashing damage around chimneys, skylights or vents

Flashing fails before shingles do. If the metal around your chimney is rusted through or pulling away, water is already finding its way in.

8. The roof is over 20 years old

A standard 3-tab composition roof installed in the late 1990s or early 2000s is well past its design life in the PNW climate. Even if it looks okay, the underlayment beneath has likely degraded.

9. Energy bills are climbing

A failed roof often means failed attic ventilation. If your heating bills jumped without a price change from the utility, look up.

10. Neighbors are re-roofing

Subdivisions built in the same year tend to need new roofs in the same year. If three houses on your street have new shingles, yours is on the clock.