What is the Life Expectancy of my Roof?
3 Factors that Affect the Reality of Roof Decline
The truth about roof life depends upon many factors.
I’m frequently asked this question, so I know it’s on the minds of many of my lifelong customers.
I checked-out Forbes Magazine to give a little third-party look at the “how long should it last question.” So you aren’t just hearing my opinion.
First, know I’m only going to share with you about asphalt shingle roofs since it is the predominant roof style in our region. There’s a good reason asphalt shingle roofs are popular. Forbes predicts your asphalt roof will last 15-30 years.
There’s a lot of difference between 15-30 years. My customers expect 30 years from a new roof. I want a long roof life for them as well. So let’s look into the facts about roof-wear:
1- PROPER ATTIC VENTILATION
Sealed attics trap excessive heat and moisture, which can lead to shorter shingle life and other not so good problems.
The most basic principle to remember is that heat is not a good thing for your roof. It’s a year round issue… if proper ventilation isn’t achieved. Did you know that a sealed attic traps heat and moisture which can lead to shorter life for your shingles?.
If you have doubts about your ventilation, please call us for a free inspection and we’ll make sure you’re keeping a cool head.
2- CRICKETS
If you have a fireplace or skylight you need a cricket on your roof.
A cricket keeps water away from your chimney as water flows smoothly away from the base. The cricket is a wooden, framed-out, triangular structure that’s installed over top of the already existing flat or pitched roof. It’s designed to direct water away from areas of the roof that are susceptible to leaks because of their sharp change of angles.
Chimney or roof crickets are imperative to help you prevent excess water from pooling on top of your roof.
3- Don’t forget it…Inspect it
Most professional roofing companies recommend you have your roof inspected twice a year.
And the good news with the Boys in Blue… you never pay for an inspection. Not ever. We don’t find problems where none exist but we believe the faster you address a problem with your roof—the better.
You may also want to call us after a terrible wind or hail storm.
The time to care for your roof is well before you notice stains on your ceiling from water leaks. Once you see evidence of a leak don’t expect things to change between rainstorms.
You work hard to keep a roof over your head. Our work is to keep your roof safe for you and well maintained.
We want to help you prolong the life of your roof.