03 November 2006

How Long Should a Roof Last?

Need a New Roof? We Can Help:

If you're wondering about the life expectancy of your current roof, or even how long your new roof will last, once it is installed, you'll need to consider several factors:
  • The Geographic Location & Climate of your House
  • The Quality of Materials of your Roof
  • The Style of Roof
Climate
If you live in a particularly warm and/or moist climate, you roofing material may not last as long as predicted. Heat and sun exposure can reduce the life of most asphalt shingle roofs - - and about 75% of all American homes use this material. In fact, they say that the only roofing material that gets the full life from the listing are houses in Alaska.

Climate and harsh weather do a number on roofs -- the sun and heat, as previously mentioned, are a major factor. So, too, are rain, snow, hail, sleet, and wind. Many parts of the country have more excessive weather and larger changes from season to season. All can affect how long your roof will protect your home.

Quality
There are inexpensive asphalt shingles that can be put on your home and very expensive tiles. You can have a cheap tin roof or a stylized and sturdy metal roof. But, in the world of roofing, what you spend affects what you get -- spend more for higher quality products and you'll need to have your roof replaced or repaired much less often.

It's also going to depend on the thickness and quality of insulation and backing paper that is used during installation. You can get a cheap roofing job done, but you're going to end up with a cheap roofing job as well.

Fiberglass shingles, for example, are stronger than organic shingles. They're more flexible to withstand weather changes. They are more expensive, too. Making sure that your roof installation includes the proper venting and flashing -- which can increase the budget -- will affect your overall results.

Metal and some tile roofs (especially concrete tiles) can last an extremely long time. You'll spend more for installation, but it's probably something you'll never have to worry about again.

Style
The pitch of your roof can be a factor. You can have a flat roof or an highly sloped roof (like on an A-frame house.) Homes in the Southwest may have a flatter roof because there's not as much need to ensure water and snow runoff. A flatter roof has a harder time getting rid of the damaging affects of moisture.

Most asphalt shingles can last from 12 to 30 years. Wood shake roofs from 10 to 30 years. Metal roofing can last from 50 to 100 years. Tile roofing is probably in that same range.

If you need to find a local roofing company to repair or replace your roof, contact ConstructionDeal.com to save time and money. Our network of is ready to come out to your house to give you a proper estimate.

Post your request, at no cost, and choose how many companies you'd like to contact you -- it's that easy.

technorati tags: