How Often Should You Replace Your Roof?

A house’s roof is the protective layer from the external conditions that help keep your home dry and warm. For this very reason, the roof rightfully earns its label as one of the most important structures of your home.

Unfortunately, despite its importance, it’s also an item that homeowners don’t want to repair or replace often. First, there’s that element of cost since roof repairs can get quite expensive. It could also be the worry of not wanting to go through so much trouble with construction or renovation works, while they’re also living in the same house. For others, they simply don’t feel the need to replace the entire roof since little and temporary solutions can be done anyway.

But, this kind of thinking is wrong. On average, a roof will need to be replaced every 15 to 20 years, depending on the materials used, ventilation, and climate factors such a humidity, cold, and heat. While it may be an expensive project to undertake, it’s also one that’s worth the expense. Beyond just making your house feel new again, a roof replacement job can even increase the marketability of your home.

That said, if you’re interested in having a roof replacement done, consider having a roofing contractor perform inspections on your roof every couple of years to keep informed about the status of the roof of your home. Thankfully, now, it’s no longer as difficult to find a good roofing contractor. Thanks to the Internet, you can easily find roofing companies in your area online.

That being said, read through below to gain more insights about a roof replacement.

Signs You Need A New Roof

As mentioned above, a roof should be replaced every 15 to 20 years. But, this isn’t absolute. Later on in this article, you’ll come across the different factors that can affect the lifespan of your roof. Also, you’re going to learn the telltale signs that your roof might be in dire need of a repair or replacement. In doing so, you don’t wait until its too late or when the job is too big before you give any attention to it.

That said, some of the pressing signs that you need a new roof include:

• There are beams of light coming through your attic, on top of where stains are developing, as this could mean that you’ve got a leaky roof.
• If the house you’re living in is really old, you inherently know that you’ve also got an old roof.
• There are patches in your roof’s shingles that are buckling, cracked, and damaged.
• There are obvious signs of broken and damaged parts.
• The roof has started to sag.

Lifespan Of A Roof

The lifespan of a roof can vary from house to house, and it doesn’t matter how similar the roofs all look in a neighborhood. Many factors will determine how long your roof will last and when it will need to be replaced. This is also the reason why it’s always recommended to have a roofing contractor to take a look at your roof so a proper determination can be made as to whether or not a replacement is called for.

A few of the elements you need to consider are:

• Materials

It depends on the roofing materials that were first used on your home, and different roofing materials come with different average lifespans. If you keep up to date with typical roof maintenance asphalt shingles should last 15 to 18 years. Laminate shingles can average 24 to 30 years, but wood shingles and metals can average 30 to 40 years, and 30 to 45 years, respectively, and clay tiles can average to around 50 years.

• Humidity

Depending on how humid the climate is you live in, you might be replacing your roof sooner than the average lifespan. Moisture is your roof’s enemy, and areas that are prone to heavy rains, snowfall, sleet, and hail, can expect to replace their roof before it hits its average lifespan. Winter is damaging to many things, but especially your rood with the fluctuations between freezing temperatures and above-zero thaws, that lead to other problems for your roof.

• Heat

Dark roofs are prone to absorb heat, which can lead to melting and cracking, and other problems when your roof is vulnerable. Again, is you live somewhere,  with a warm climate or hot summers, this can all play an effect on the lifespan of your roof.

• Poor Ventilation

There’s much more to consider then the quality of shingles when thinking of roof care. There needs to be proper ventilation to ensure that your roof is not forming ice dams during the winter and that air can circulate and properly ventilate during the summer so that your roof doesn’t get too hot.

• Age

The older your roof gets, the more likely it is that it will need to be repaired or replaced. Another thing to consider, if ever buying a home, is asking for an inspection of the roof.

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to replacing a roof, but generally, most roofs need to be replaced after 20 years. But, if you’re noticing any problems or significant issues before that time, it might have to be done sooner. It’s essential to keep your eye out for signs of damage. Else, if left unrepaired, it could cause severe structural damage and make your roof dangerous. A professional roofing company, like DMV Roofing Pros, can evaluate your roof and determine if it needs to be entirely replaced or if it can be repaired. With a good roofing contractor, you can now avoid little repairs that can be costly since they can add up. Also, with a reputable roofing contractor, you’re assured of having a roof to last you through decades to come.