It’s always important to ensure that you get the most out of any investment that you make. And this is especially true when you’re making an investment in your home. This will make sure that the money you spend brings a return on investment (in the shape of added property value) and also that your home is comfortable and secure.
One of the more important elements of the home is the roof. If this part of your property isn’t in good condition, you could face a whole host of unwanted issues that can be expensive to repair. As such, it’s critical that you have a roof that’s in perfect condition.
To get this, you might need to invest in a new asphalt roof. And once you’ve got it, you’ll hope that it lasts a long time. But how long can you expect that to be? In this blog, we’ll answer the question: how long does an asphalt roof last on a house?
How Long Will It Last?
The good news is that you can expect your asphalt roof to last a long time. Of course, there are many variables that you’ll need to take into account, but in general, you can expect that it’ll last somewhere in the region of 20 – 28 years. The exact number depends on some of the factors that we’ll outline below, as well as the type of asphalt roof that you have installed.
The most common type of asphalt roofs are 3-tab shingles and dimensional shingles. 3-tab shingles come with a twenty five year warranty. Dimensional shingles come with a 30 year warranty. But it’s imperative that the roof is installed correctly in order to reach those numbers.
What Impacts The Longevity Of An Asphalt Roof?
While there’s an upper limit of how long asphalt roofs can last, those numbers are not guaranteed. There are a number of factors that will determine how long the roof will last. They include:
Proper Ventilation
It’s really important that your roof is properly ventilated. If it isn’t, then there’ll be a lot of hot and cold air trapped in there, and that can have a huge impact on the longevity of the roof. If there’s too much heat, then it won’t be too long before you need to have a roof replacement. Without proper ventilation, the roof’s warranty may be void, too.
Hire Well
The contractor that you hire to install your roof will also have a big impact on how long it lasts. It’s always important to remember that there can be differences in quality from one contractor to another. A good contractor will know the correct techniques for installing roofs, and that will help you to get as many years of use from your roof as possible. So don’t leave it up to chance — make sure that you’re working with the best contractor in your area!
Weather Conditions
Your roof is there to protect you and your home from the elements. However, you can’t expect your roof to take care of the elements forever. The end of your roof’s lifespan will occur when it’s gone through too much wear and tear. If you live in a place with optimal weather conditions, then this wear and tear will take longer to occur than if you live in a place that frequently receives extreme weather. It makes sense that a roof that is continually hit by hail would have a shorter lifespan than one in a moderate climate.
Ongoing Maintenance
Another factor that can shorten or extend a roof’s lifespan is how well you’re staying on top of maintenance. As with most parts of your home, the more that you look after your roof, the longer that it’ll last! You can hire a company to perform annual roof checks; they’ll be able to take care of any slight issues before they become big problems. One job that you can do yourself is to keep your gutters clear. They can pose problems if they become full of debris and don’t want as well as they should.
How To Know When You Need a New Roof
In order to preserve the quality of your home, you’ll need to know when you need to invest in a new roof. You’ll know if it needs to be replaced because of a major storm since the signs will be obvious. Less obvious signs involve if you see cracked shingles or you can see that there are a lot missing. At that point, be sure to call a roofing contractor.