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If parts of your roof are missing, it needs to be replaced. Now.

Nothing is leaking and there hasn't been a recent hail storm, but you still can't shake the feeling that your roof may have hit its expiration date. You can call in a professional and get an official diagnosis, or you can investigate some of these signs yourself before you call in the big guys. The following are indicators your roof is ready to be replaced.

1. The shingle edges are curled up.
You definitely don't remember your roof looking so lumpy last spring, but after severe summer storms and humid sunshine, you've noticed your shingles curling up or cupping at the edge of the house. This could be a sign of age alone, or it could even be due to defective material installed in the past.

2. Bald spots on your roof where granules are missing, or granules that have traveled into your gutters.
The sandy textured bits of your roof (granules) are designed to resist UV rays from damaging the substrate of shingles, which directs water down to the gutters and away from your house. If they granules are coming off the shingles, the roof is definitely aged, or it has been subject to a heavy storm you didn't know about. It's best to get it inspected.

3. You've noticed cracked shingles.
Just as with cupped shingles, cracked shingles are a result of weather conditions causing the shingles to shrink then crack. Cracked shingles have definitely lost the ability to protect your home from moisture.

4. Missing shingles
Occasionally, shingles can fall off the roof if poorly installed or if severe weather conditions blow them off. Missing shingles need to be replaced, particularly if you find shingles are gone from the valleys or eaves, as these are the areas of the roof where most of the snow and rain collect.

5. If your roof is at least 15 years old
Most asphalt roofs should last between 15 and 30 years, depending on quality, climate conditions, maintenance and other factors. But after enough time has passed, most roofs will be in need of replacement. If you don't know the age of your roof, an inspector can make an accurate estimate.

6. Your neighbors are all getting new roofs
Most houses in a neighborhood are built at similar times and experience similar weather conditions, so if an inspector deems one roof in the neighborhood is aged or damaged and in need of replacement, your home's roof may be nearing the end of its life cycle.

7. The roof just looks old and worn.
You can tell an old roof when some shingles are black but the rest are a watered down gray. Or the roof is starting to sag in places. Or they look like they belong to a 1990s home.

8. There are dark streaks running down your roof
Airborne algae is one cause of streaks on shingles. It doesn't necessarily harm the roof, but it certainly doesn't look good. Algae can be removed with a light combination of bleach and water, rinsed off with a low-volume hose. Just be sure to not use too much pressure to clean the shingles, lest you remove granules, and also protect your landscaping from any bleach runoff.

9. Your roof is growing moss
Moss grows on roofs that don't get much sunlight, especially in cool dampness, just like this past wet summer here in the Minneapolis metro area produced. Moss can be dangerous because it holds moisture against the roof surface, and in freezing conditions, this further damages shingle granules.

10. Your chimney or sidewall flashing is tar or cement
Back in the day, tar or cement were about as good as we could do to prevent water from running into the house around chimneys or vents. Now, long-term and water-tight metal fittings are by far the most effective option in keeping that water out of your home.

11. Any spongy spots on your home
If you safely climb on top of your roof to give it a quick inspection, and you feel any soft spots or any give beneath your feet, the roof is definitely too old to protect your house and needs to be replaced.

11.5 Your roof is an ugly color
Ok, this may not be the most pressing nor legitimate reason to make a large investment in one of your greatest assets, but a house's roof accounts for 40% of its curb appeal, and it plays a large role in the amount of pride of you can take in your home. And sometimes, that makes all the difference.