When Can You Expect To Need A Roof Replacement
Many homeowners have heard the guideline that says their roofing system has a 25 to thirty years life expectancy before it will need replacement. That rule is only a guide and not always the rule. Most home roofing systems will need to be replace some time before that 25 to 30 year amount of time. There are a lot of variables that will effect the need to change the roof of a home.
House roofing systems take a great deal of wear and tear throughout it’s life time. Strong winds, snow, heat throughout the hot summer season days, animals, etc. Roof replacement depends on a lot of things such as:
– Local weather condition
– Upkeep and care
– Age of the materials
– Product quality
– The style of the roof
– Animal and bug pests
– External debris build-up
A lot of residential roofing systems experience all 4 seasons and the pounding that comes along with them. It is for that reason it is important for homeowners and property owners to keep up scheduled upkeep and inspections.
HOW LONG WILL YOUR ROOF WILL LAST?
As a general guideline, the 25 – 30 year benchmark works. If your roof is old, it’s likely that it will require repairs throughout its life time. Some might even require a full roof replacement within that time frame.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t tell the full story. As mentioned above, there are numerous variables to consider. One crucial variable is the products utilized on your roof – both the material and the quality of it.
Usually, the 25 – 30 year rule extends to roofs with composite or asphalt shingles. These materials are very popular because they’re cost effective and are available in several options. Not everybody uses these products for their roofing systems. Therefore, the timing for replacement can differ from property to property.
Asphalt shingles last for about 20 years before needing replacement. The manufacturer and the quality of the shingles should also be considered. Quality go a long way to save budgets.
Overall, there are many different answers to how often roofing systems require replacing. If you are wondering about your roof, the best thing would be to arrange a roofing inspection by a reliable roofing contractor.
MISSING, LOOSE OR CRACKED SHINGLES
The concern with a lot of roofs is that they are often not thought of until something goes wrong. Most people don’t generally look at their roof tops good look unless there is a stain or dark spot viewable from the street or backyard. Old or worn shingles are fairly simple to spot if you look for them. Missing shingles may be replaced individually, but it’s usually a sign of a bigger issue. Big areas of cracked or loose shingles (or ones that are obviously falling apart) suggest that your roof needs replacement.
CURLED SHINGLES AND BALD AREAS
Shingles can curl 2 ways – cupping, when the edges turn up, or clawing, when edges remain flat and the middle starts to come up. Both could indicate that:
– Moisture has actually developed beneath the shingles due to poor ventilation in the attic
– Shingles were improperly installed
– Aging, direct sun and weathering
Bald areas on your shingles imply that the granules have started to fall off and expose the asphalt below. A way to determine if this is the case, look in your roof’s gutter for shingles granules. If rain brings them into your seamless gutters, it’s likely your roof needs to be replaced.
MOSS, DARK SPOTS AND ALGAE DEVELOPMENT
Moss can start to grow on a roof that does not get a lot of sunlight, especially in cool and wet environments. This may not be directly related to how soon you may need a new roof (or that it needs repair) but these issues can spread and cause damage.
SUNSHINE COMING THROUGH THE ROOF BEAMS
When taking a look at the roof from your attic, look for any spots where the sun is filtering through the roof boards. Do not wait up until you locate a leak in your ceiling to decide to have your roof inspected by a professional roofing contractor.
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