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How Long Do Roofs Last? More Than You Think

If you’ve got a roof you think might need either repaired or replaced – you might be wondering how long do roofs last. Even if you don’t have any problems with your own roof, it can still be a good idea to know how long different types of roofs last. Especially if you’re looking to have a specific roof installed sometime soon.

That’s the thing with the lifespan of roofs – there’s no one specific figure for all roofs. A lot of it will depend on the type of roof construction and a number of other factors.

Things like local weather and how you care for your roof can all play an important role. So in this article, we’re going to look at a few different roof types as well as some other factors that might affect how long your roof lasts.

How long do roofs last – Different types of roofs

The biggest factor in determining how long your roof is going to last is what it was made from. Let’s have a look at a few of the most popular roofing materials and the average lifespans of all of them.

Asphalt how long do roofs last - asphalt

There isn’t one answer for this either – as there are lots of different asphalt roofing solutions. The cheapest and one of the most common asphalt options is 3 tab shingle – and these roofs have a lifespan of about 10 to 20 years.

That means they might be cheap, but you might have to replace them more often than you think. These roofs aren’t good in extreme weather, either – especially storms. They can also develop cracks when it’s really hot, so aren’t recommended for some states.

There’s another type of asphalt roof called dimensional shingle. These are thicker and longer lasting than the more common alternative we just looked at.

These roofs can last a bit longer, upwards of about 15 years, but still not many more than around 20.

The upper end of the asphalt market uses and even thicker shingle and these are the sorts of roofs many luxury homes have. The lifespan of these increases a bit and these could last between 20 and 30 years. Again, depending on the environment and a number of external factors (which will have a closer look at later).

Metalhow long do roofs last - metal (1)

Metal roofs have long been a mainstay in the commercial industry, but more and more architects are including them in residential designs. The most popular residential metal roofing material is standing seam.

One of the reasons this type of roof is becoming more and more popular is because it has a much longer lifespan than asphalt roofing. A correctly installed standing seam metal roof can last at least 30 and up to 50 years. This makes it a great choice for homeowners.

There are other high-end metal roof solutions like zinc and copper, and while these might be more expensive – they last even longer. Some of these roofs can last well over 100 years.

These roofs are slightly better in extreme weather conditions, too – some able to withstand winds up to 150 miles per hour (although this can vary a lot).

A slightly more affordable metal roof is one made from ribbed metal panels. These don’t last quite as long, but you might expect a lifespan of more than 25 years, and sometimes up to 50 years depending on the construction.

Woodhow long do roofs last - wood (1)

Wood roofs might not be that popular in roofing anymore – but they can still last up to 50 years.

Clay tileshow long do roofs last - clay tiles (1)

Clay roofing has been popular for a long time and this popularity remains because of how durable they are. A good clay tile can be guaranteed to last at least 30 years, and often up to around 60. Severe weather over prolonged periods can shorten this a bit.

Natural slatehow long do roofs last - slate (1)

Natural slate used to be one of the more popular roofing solutions, but this popularity has decreased somewhat because of how expensive they are. They’re also really heavy – but extremely long lasting. A good slate roof could last up to 100 years, but it will cost a lot to replace.

While slate roofs are good in heavy weather conditions, loose slates in very strong winds can be dangerous, so this might be something to consider inf you live in certain areas.

PVC and TPO membraneshow long do roofs last - pvc ch

These roofing finishes are becoming more and more popular, and they can be quite durable, along with having good energy-efficient qualities. However, they don’t last the longest – and might have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. That being said, they’re easy to resurface.

Tips On How to make your roof last longer

Regardless of the sort of roof yours is made from, there are a few useful tips to help make yours last a bit longer. Keep a lookout for any damage and get it fixed immediately.

Inspect your roof once or twice a year to make sure any issues get fixed as soon as possible. Any cracks could become more problematic if they aren’t fixed immediately.

A good pressure clean every so often is also a good idea. You don’t want any mould to develop as this could lead to further problems.

What can reduce the expected life span of a roof?

It might surprise you to know that the color of a roof can actually affect how long it lasts – that’s because a darker roof absorbs more heat, which could reduce the lifespan of some roofs. The direction your roof is facing could also make a difference.

Higher pitched roofs also tend to last longer than lower sloped ones. If you or someone else walks a lot on your roof, this could cause damage and reduce the lifespan. A roof that’s poorly installed by a shoddy contractor might also not last as long. Extreme weather can also play a big role. A poorly ventilated loft or roof area can also have an impact.

Hopefully, you’ve now got a slightly better idea how long your roof might last. This can help you maintain roof and also give you the right information if you need to choose a new roofing solution for your home.

Important Questions To Ask a Roofer Before Signing The Contract

If you’re about to get your roof done – you’ve probably got a lot of questions that need asking. Don’t worry – while getting your home re-roofed can be expensive, it needn’t be stressful. If you’re not sure exactly what work your roof needs – this article might be for you.

We’re going to help you find the best roofer for your home or business by giving you a number of different questions to ask potential contractors.

Remember – just because you’ve invited a company to visit your home and give you a quote, that doesn’t mean you have to go with them. If some of the answers to these questions don’t ring true or simply make your feel unsure about doing business with them – then don’t.

The right roofing contractor should be able to give you competent answers to all these questions, and you don’t want to get stuck with a poor-quality team when there are so many good ones out there.

So, here are some questions to ask a roofer before you agree to hire them

#1 How long do they think the job will take?

questions to ask a roofer 1

This one’s important – there can be a vast range of estimates from different contractors, depending on the size of the team and if they’ll only be working on your house before they start the next job. Some contractors take multiple jobs at a time meaning they won’t be rushing to finish your site or even be at your home every day.

If you’re having your roof completely replaced – you’ll want it fixed as quickly as possible. Having days where the roof is open could be risky in certain weather conditions – and it’s just not really something you want to leave unfinished, is it?

If your potential contractor can’t give you a reasonably specific estimate as to how long it’ll take – you might want to look elsewhere.

#2 What specific roof solution do they recommend?

Be careful that some contractors aren’t simply recommending the most expensive option. If you feel like this is the case – ask around for more quotes from other firms.

While completely re-roofing might be the right choice for your home, it could alternatively be better suited to a quicker solution like overlaying. See what they recommend and ask them why. And importantly…

#3 What will it cost?

how much will fixing my roof cost

There’s a huge difference in price between overlaying an existing shingle roof and completely replacing one. Although re-roofing might be more expensive, it should also last longer, and could even add value to your home.

Not only does the type of roof work vary in cost – but so do the contractors. You normally get what you pay for, and those in high demand will be able to charge more for a better quality job, but this isn’t always the case. So try and shop around.

Again, cost can vary depending on things like how big the team is and how long the job will take to complete, as well as how big your actual roof is.

#4 How much experience have they got?

You won’t really want to go with an inexperienced team unless you’re super-desperate for a low price. Make sure the local roof contractor you choose has tons of experience doing a good job – they should have plenty of references from people who’ve been happy with their work.

#5 Can you see some finished roofs?

architecture-1867187_640 (1)

Ask if there are any roofs they have worked on nearby that you can have a quick look at. Failing that, ask for a few happy customers who you can call to check. If they can’t provide you with any of this information, you might want to treat carefully.

If they’ve been doing the job for a while in your local area – they should have plenty of people who’ve been happy with their work. If they don’t – you need to know why.

 

#6 Do they have any relevant qualifications?

While many quality tradespeople learn on the job and do so without actual qualification – you might want to see if your potential contractor has any. Especially if the location they work in requires it.

Aside from roof work, they may have a number of auxiliary qualifications that supplement their roof work – like health and safety certificates.

#7 How many team-members will be working on your roof?

joel-javier

When you allow someone to work on your property, you’ll want to know how many people are going to be on-site at any one time. If you can, you’d like to know exactly who’s working on your property.

Some teams have variable numbers with new and different workers arriving every day – and this can be off-putting to certain homeowners who don’t want different people entering their property without knowing who they are. If this is an issue for you – ask the relevant questions.

#8 Where are they located?

It goes without saying that if you pick a contractor that isn’t from the local area – it’ll be harder to evaluate their work. It might also make commuting to the job more difficult and could lead to complications with traffic and other issues.

It’s normally better to go with someone in your local area – especially if they come recommended from someone you know.

 

#9 What level of access will they need to your roof?

key-74534_640 (1)

Depending on where you live and what the situation of your property is – you might need to evaluate how they’re going to get to the roof. Are there trees in the way – can scaffolding or ladders be easily put in place.

Some jobs might become more expensive if specialist equipment is needed to get to the roof in the first place.

 

#10 Are they fully licensed and insured?

Depending on your location – your roofer might need specific licensing to carry out the job – so this is something you’ll need to check. You’ll also want to make sure they’re insured to carry out the job.

#11 Will there be a warranty on the roof?

questions for your roofer

If you notice a problem with the roof not long after the job has been completed – will there be any comeback? Most high-quality roofers will be proud of their work and should be happy to offer a warranty in confidence as they know a problem will be unlikely. If they aren’t – this could be a warning flag.

Hopefully, these questions are enough to find you the best roofer for your job.