What Factors Impact How Long Your Roof Lasts
- Quality of the installation workmanship – A poor quality installation will shorten your roofs lifespan.
- Environmental conditions – Exposure to high winds, extreme temperatures, and falling debris can decrease how long your roof lasts.
- The quality of materials used – Cheaper materials wont cost as much upfront but will have to be replaced more often than other expensive roofing materials.
- The type of roofing material used – Each roofing material has different durability, making them last longer or shorter in different conditions.
While there are several factors that impact how long your roof lasts, your roof’s lifespan most heavily depends on the materials used. Let’s take a closer look at the various roof types and how long each of them lasts.
How Much Do Solar Shingles Cost
Solar panels are worth it. The average roof price for a solar tile roof is between $60,000 and $75,000, depending on the angle, slope, and size of your roof.
Roof shingles repairHow do you repair shingles on roof? Cracked Shingle Repair Use a crowbar to lift the shingles. Apply roofing adhesive under the crack. Press the slat against the ceiling. Apply more sealant to the crack. Spread the filling with a spatula. Sprinkle the granules over the cement to color it.Should I replace my shingle roof or repair it?If you have a lot of damaged or missing shingles, you will need to replace them. However, if there
Example Of Very Soft Roofing Slates Past End Of Life
The slate above looks pretty good from a distance, though in the first photo as I’ve begun to push it up you can see some delamination.
In my second “rotted slate” photo below, I’m demonstrating that my weak puny thumb and forefinger are engough to smush this red slate into mud.
My third end-of-life slate photo shows the result: the slate is a handful of fragile chips and slivers.
This red slate, probably from the Granville NY quarry, was also wet through to the touch. A few of these slates were on the ground along a barn on the FDR estate, the rest were still on the roof.
We strongly advise inspectors not to walk on slate roofs. Risks include falling – very slippery, and extensive damage to the slates.
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Different Types And Styles Of Slate Roofing Tiles
- Standard slate The most common slate installation consists of pieces of uniformly-cut slate. The slate is arranged like asphalt shingles, which enables easier repairs.
- Patterned slate Slates of different shapes and colors can be presented into the standard slate installation method, which can be used to create different patterns that can be noticed from a curbside view.
Multicolored slate Slate is naturally produced in many colors. Various slate colors combined onto a roof adds character to an otherwise static-looking roof.
Textural slate Uses rough-textured slate varying in thickness and size, ensuing in a rough appearance.
History Of Slate Use In The United States Return To Top
Although slate quarrying was not common in the United States until the latter half of the nineteenth century, slate roofing is known to have been used prior to the Revolution. Archeological excavations at Jamestown, Virginia,have unearthed roofing slate in strata dating from 1625-1650 and 1640-1670. Slate roofs were introduced in Boston as early as 1654 and Philadelphia in 1699. Seventeenth century building ordinances of New York and Boston recommended the use of slate or tile roofs to ensure fireproof construction.
Architectural pattern books of the mid-19th century awakened Americans to the availability and quality of slate for roofing purposes. Drawing: Design XX, “A French Roof House,” in A.J. Downing’s Victorian Cottage Residences.
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Which Flat Roof System Is Best
All flat roofing materials have their own unique properties and potential advantages. EPDM rubber roofing is the preferred choice for many homes and businesses, while others prefer the lightweight properties of fibreglass for flat roofing systems. At the top end of the scale, a premium flat roofing system has the potential to last up to 50 years â almost entirely maintenance free.
How To Keep A Slate Roof In Good Condition
If you want your slate roof to last the full 75 to 200 years, youll need to keep up with maintenance. When a few of the slates are damaged, you need to have them replaced quickly. This will prevent further damage. Any leaks should be resolved as soon as possible to prevent bigger issues.
If you dont replace the slates soon enough, you could cause damage to the roof deck. Roof deck repairs are much more expensive than just replacing a few slate tiles.
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Quality Of The Installation
How well the slate roof has been installed will also affect its lifespan. Older slate roofs were installed with iron or lower-quality galvanised steel nails that are very susceptible to weather corrosion, causing a problem called nail sickness. Slate roofs suffering from nail sickness are likely to have slipped and broken slates that allow water damage and reduce the lifespan of the roof.
Other common installation problems that can affect the lifespan of a slate roof are inadequate overlap of the tiles, poorly fitted flashing and poor sheathing materials in the roof underneath the slate.
How Long Does A Roof Last
One of the key factors that determine if you need a new roof is age. Now, we all know roofs dont last forever, but homeowners may be asking themselves: how long does a roof last?
Generally, you can expect your roof to last about 30 years. But, the actual lifespan of your roof depends on a number of things, including the type of roofing materials that were used as well as the environment.
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A Look At Slate Tile Roof Life Expectancy
A slate tile roof adds instant curb appeal because it is beautiful and can only complement the architectural appeal of your home. A slate tile roof is usually seen on the most elegant homes, so its always associated with luxury and good taste. However, before you make the decision to use natural slate on your roof, you need to know the pros and cons about slate roofing tiles and what alternative options you have that will give you the look of natural slate tiles without the problems that come with real slate roof tiles.
Material Installation And Maintenance
Metal shingles tend to last longer than asphalt, but this is another conditional statement. Within each category are differing grades of material. A good asphalt shingle, properly installed, can outlast an inferior grade of metal shingle or one thats put on in shoddy fashion. This makes it important to choose a reputable Fort Worth roofing company, one that is experienced, licensed and bonded. Whether you decide on asphalt or metal shingles, Old Pro Roofing will be able to show you the best materials for your budget. We will let you know how many squares you will need to cover your roof and along with other essential roofing materials needed. We will explain how to maintain your roof for maximum performance. Call us now for a free roof inspection to see if your roofing is due for replacement.
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What’s The Best Pairing Of Roof And Siding
Some people prefer their roof to match the color of the siding to create a uniform look. On the contrary, others prefer to use two shades. If you opt for two shades, you can choose complementary colors or contrasting colors. Complementary colors are pleasing to the eye, while contrasting colors have a greater impact.
Reader Question: Comparing The Properties Of Canadian Slate & Welsh Slate For Roofs
5/5/2014 john owen said:
hi, what is the difference between canadian roofing slates and welsh slates .
Reply:
John you must know that the names refer to where the roofing slates originate.
Canadian roofing slates are made from slate quarried in Quebec or possibly Newfoundland, and sold by a variety of companies. According to the National Slate Association,
Overlooking the ocean at Burgoynes Cove, Newfoundland, is a deposit of smooth to medium-texture, unfading Cambrian slate with deep purple, green and variegated green and purple slate colors. The purple slate is very similar in color to Welsh Purple from England. Production of roofing slate from this quarry has been intermittent since the early 1900s.
The Glendyne Quarry in St. Mark du Lac Long, Quebec, Canada, is the largest roofing-slate producing facility in North America and one of the largest in the world. Their unfading black slate is currently produced for the European and North American market and is marketed in North America as North Country Unfading Black.
The first production from this vein of slate occurred in the early 1900s. This smooth-textured slate is easy to cut and has a consistent black color with subtle vertical shade markings. – slateassociation.org
For Edco roofing slates sold in Canada the product includes a 50 year warranty.
Welsh roofing slate is described by welshslate.com which I quote as well, noting that this is also marketing literature mixed with useful facts:
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Where Does Slate Come From Return To Top
Slate is a fine grained, crystalline rock derived from sediments of clay and fine silt which were deposited on ancient sea bottoms. Superimposed materials gradually consolidated the sedimentary particles into bedded deposits of shale. Mountain building forces subsequently folded, crumpled, and compressed the shale. At the same time, intense heat and pressure changed the original clays into new minerals such as mica, chlorite, and quartz. By such mechanical and chemical processes bedded clays were transformed, or metamorphosed, into slate, whole geologic ages being consumed in the process. Slates vary in composition, structure, and durability because the degree to which their determinant minerals have been altered is neither uniform nor consistent.
These traditional slater’s tools are used to cut and trim, hammer, measure, and rip out nails. Photo: Jeffrey S. Levine.
The adaptation of slate for roofing purposes is inextricably linked to its genesis. The manufacturing processes of nature have endowed slate with certain commercially amenable properties which have had a profound influence on the methods by which slate is quarried and fabricated, as well as its suitability for use as a roofing tile.
What To Consider When You Are Replacing A Roof
One important thing to consider when you are choosing a roofing system or purchasing a new property is the resistance of the roof to wind uplift, which is the suction effect created by wind forces as the air flows parallel to the surface of the roof.
When a gust of wind hits the side of a house or other building, some of that air moves upwards across the roof, creating a pressure differential that can blow off or damage shingles or tiles, or even entire sections of the roof altogether.
Roofing systems are rated based on the amount of wind uplift they can withstand measured in miles per hour.
If you live in a particularly windy area or one that is prone to tornadoes or hurricanes, youll want to ensure that you go for a higher rating for wind uplift to avoid a wind damage roof.
Youll also want to consider other factors before replacing your roof or purchasing a property the age of the roof, how many layers of shingles there are, and whether the roof is properly braced and ventilated.
A roof inspection performed by a professional can help you answer these questions and more, and you can also visually examine the roof yourself for curling or buckling shingles, missing shingles, damaged shingles, damage to the flashing or seals around the chimneys, skylights, or dormers, granules or debris in the gutters or around the ground near your home, and other signs of future problems.
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Life Expectancy / Durability Of Different Roofing Slates
Roofing Slate Life Depends on From Where Slates were Quarried, as we desribe below.
Life expectancy of Virginia Buckingham roofing slate
Darker gray “Buckingham” slates from Virginia are considered a durable high-quality material which, properly maintained, can have a near indefinite life. Average life of these slates is 175 years.
The Old House Journal, April, 1983 p. 57
Life expectancy of Vermont roofing slate
Vermont slate roofs, with proper maintenance, can last indefinitely.
The Old House Journal, April 1983, p.58, and Slate Roofs, National Slate Association, p. 71.
Steven Trapasso, personal communication. Also the Old House Journal April 1983 rates Vermont slates as having a 175 year life.
Such roofs should be maintained, not replaced.
With proper maintenance such an asset may be continued for an indefinite period. Inspectors who do not know the composition and source of slates would not want to condemn, except in the worst of circumstances, a Vermont slate roof.
Life expectancy of Pennsylvania roofing slate
Typical life for Pennsylvania slate roofs is 40-50 years. These life expectancies are general experience with the material and do not consider installation or environmental factors which vary from one building to the next.
The Repair Replacement And Maintenance Of Historicslate Roofs
Jeffrey S. Levine
Slate is one of the most aesthetically pleasing and durable of all roofing materials. It is indicative at once of the awesome powers of nature which have formed it and the expertise and skill of the craftsman in handshaping and laying it on the roof. Installed properly, slate roofs require relatively little maintenance and will last 60 to 125 years or longer depending on the type of slate employed, roof configuration, and the geographical location of the property. Some slates have been known to last over 200 years. Found on virtually every class of structure, slate roofs are perhaps most often associated with institutional, ecclesiastical, and government buildings, where longevity is an especially important consideration in material choices. In the slate quarrying regions of the country, where supply is abundant, slate was often used on farm and agricultural buildings as well.
Although slate replacement roofs are expensive, the superiority of materials and craftsmanship will give years of continued service. If amortized over the life of the roof, the replacement cost can be very reasonable. Photo: NPS files.
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Is It Safe To Use Reclaimed Slate For Roofing
Reclaimed Slate Slate is a roofing material with exceptional durability. Unfortunately, this means that the tangible product, the tile, often lasts longer than the company that dismantled it, or the functional quarry itself. Since there is no new product available for roof repair, old slate is often the only option for a perfect repair.
Iko Cambridge Shingles Warranty How much do IKO shingles cost? IKO 3Tab shingles cost around $ 2-4 per square foot installed. For an upper limit of 2,000 square feet, the total cost is estimated to be between $ 4,000 and $ 8,000. The cost of IKO architectural clapboard is approximately $ 3 to $ 5 per square foot installed, or $ 6,000 to $ 10,000 for a 2,000 square foot ceiling.That said, are IKO shingles good quality?Great Warranties: IKO has strong warranties, and the best warranty is easier to
Slate Roof Installations In London And Surrey
Are you looking for slate roof repair or installation? Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home, and when something goes wrong, it can be an incredibly worrying time. Here at Asgard Roofing, our highly experienced team is on hand to help you with any slate roofing requirements you might have.
For over 20 years, we have been working with both residential and commercial clients alike, helping them with flat roof replacements and repairs. Utilising the very best materials and installation techniques, we pride ourselves on delivering the very best solutions possible. So if you are in need of a slate roof specialist, get in touch with our team today!
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Why Consider A Slate Roof Alternative
People who love the look of slate shingles, but back away due to their costs and weight, find realistic options with synthetic slate products. Why? Because some smart manufacturers have actually taken into consideration the pros and cons of slate roofing and improved on what Mother Nature offers.
Heres an example. Real slate roofs are not immune to the ravages of time, or hail. Tiny fissures make natural slate susceptible to damages caused by freeze and thaw cycles. Composite slate products dont have these concerns. They defy the elements for decades to provide enduring quality and worry-free beauty on a roof.
In addition, synthetic slate shingles shine when it comes to helping protect a home. At DaVinci Roofscapes, we craft our slate roof tiles to achieve a Class 4 Rating for impact resistance and a Class A Rating for fire resistance. These slate tiles also resist winds up to 110mph, making them ideal for certain hurricane-prone areas.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Slate Tile
Many chalkboard manufacturers offer warranties of up to 100 years on their products. For people who never think about selling their home, the incredible durability of the slate is a highly sought after asset. Durability and low maintenance. Slate as a natural stone is stronger than any artificial material.
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The Replacement Of Deteriorated Roofs Return To Top
Historic slate roofs should be repaired rather than replaced whenever possible. Before replacing a slate roof, check for isolated damage, corroded and worn flashings, leaky gutters, poor ventilation in the attic, and other possible sources of moisture. All too often slate roofs are mistakenly replaced when, in fact, they could have been effectively repaired. Deciding whether an historic slate roof should be repaired or replaced can be difficult and each roof must be judged separately.
If repair is not possible and a new slate roof must be installed, it is important to remember that more than just the replacement of the slate is involved. The old slate should be removed to prevent overloading of the roof timbers. Stripping should be done in sections, with felt installed, to avoid exposing the entire subroof to the weather. ln the process, rotted wood sheathing should be replaced and the roof timbers checked for signs of stress including deflection, cracking, and twisting. If such conditions are found, a structural engineer experienced in working with older buildings should be consulted. Other repairs, such as chimney repointing, which may require access to the roof should be completed before the new roof is put on.
Prior to a replacing a roof, historical documentation is gathered to determine the roof configuration. Photo: NPS files.
