Are you eagerly anticipating the return of spring? Have you already got a number of home improvement projects lined up to make your home an even better place to live in? If you're like a lot of people, you probably haven't given much thought to your roof, choosing instead to focus on things like repainting the bedroom or installing brand new kitchen cabinets. But replacing your roof can be even more crucial than any of these. If your roof is at least two decades old, now is the time to start thinking about replacing it. It might not need replacing right away but it will almost certainly need replacing within the next few years. Some of the signs that your roof is in need of being replaced are as follows:

Curling shingles: Asphalt shingles should lie flat against one another. They can be textured, which gives the appearance of a bumpy roof, but each individual shingle should still be as flat as possible. If you go outside and look up at your roof, you shouldn't be seeing any shingles that are lifted up or that are otherwise not touching the shingle below. If you see this, you need to call one of your local residential roofers to at least have your roof inspected to find out how serious things are.

Missing texture: Each asphalt shingle is covered in hundreds of very tiny gravel-like stones. These stones give the shingles an appearance that is similar to sandpaper but they also serve a vital purpose. They help protect the asphalt itself from the elements, especially from the sun. Over time, these tiny rocks can come loose and start to wash away when the shingle is hit by rain. You're not going to notice this at first but, eventually, you may notice a spot on your roof that is smoother than the rest. If you see this or you see a bunch of small stones being washed into your gutters, it's time to have some residential roofers come out to put new shingles on your roof.

Funny smell: Over time, your home can go through various phases where strange smells are apparent. In some cases, this might be caused by sewer gasses backing up into your home. In other cases, the cause might be old food that was forgotten and left out. But a third, and common, cause of mysterious odors in your home can actually be your roof. A minor leak might not yet be enough to drip down into your living areas but it can cause mold to thrive in the attic or crawlspace area above your ceiling, resulting in a musty odor. Another cause of a musty odor can be dry rot starting to take hold and eat away at your roof. If you've got a strange smell that you can't identify and you feel like you've tried everything to get rid of it, have your roof inspected by residential roofers to see if they can eliminate the strange smell.