How Often Do Roofs Need To Be Replaced
If youve done just a little digging into this question, youve probably come across the 25-30 year rule for replacing your roof. That figure is used as a benchmark. Most residential roofs need replacing within that window. However, there are quite a few variables to consider and not any roof is the same.
Your roof takes a lot of external wear and tear throughout each passing year. Sunlight, snow accumulation, strong winds, debris, rodents, hurricanes, or extreme weather conditions all of these have an impact on a roofs lifetime. How often your roof needs to be replaced depends on several factors:
- Keeping pests and rodents away
- External debris accumulation
In New England, our roofs experience all four seasons and the external beating that comes with them. So its important to keep up with maintenance and schedule regular roof inspections.
Should You Repair Or Replace Your Damaged Roof
The decision to repair or replace a damaged roof can be a hard one. No one wants to replace their roof, but delaying a replacement when one is necessary can lead to problems like leaks, pest infestation, and structural damage. Knowing when to replace or repair a roof is critical for ensuring the structural stability of your residential property.
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How Often Should You Be Getting Your Roof Serviced
Getting your roof serviced is one of the most important parts of having one. By the end of 2021, it is estimated there will be 28.1 million households in the UK, all of which have a roof. Regardless of what kind of roof it is, it needs to be inspected on a regular basis. Forgetting to give your roof a bit of TLC can lead to some serious problems later down the line!
Each roof has specific needs and requirements some need more inspections and maintenance than others. The roofers at Findley have put together a general guide that will help you choose when to get your roof inspected and work out whether or not you can complete the checks yourself. Dont forget, if you ever need professional roofing contractors in Newcastle or elsewhere across the North East, you can turn to Findley Roofing.
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Can You Inspect Your Own Roof
The thing you might now be wondering is if this process is something you need a professional for, or if youd get on just fine doing it yourself.
If youre fairly experienced with home repair and have learned some about the roofing process, you might be able to spot some of the more obvious shingle and flashing damage from the ground, or water damage to your roof decking in your attic, but you may have trouble seeing things like granule loss, pipe boot damage.
When your initial inspection turns up a leak, that’s when you’ll want to call out a professional to come diagnose the problem. Professional roofing contractors see damaged roofs every day, so they will know exactly what to look for, and what they can do to fix it. You’ll also definitely want a professional if you are looking into getting a roof replacement. They’ll have the proper tools and techniques to measure your roof, and give a good estimate.
Missing Loose Or Cracked Shingles
The issue with most roofs is that theyre ignored and out of sight. You dont usually take a good look unless there is a stain or dark spot viewable from the street or yard.
Old or worn shingles are fairly easy to spot if you search for them. Missing shingles may be replaced individually, but its usually a sign of the bigger issue. Large areas of cracked or loose shingles indicate that your roof needs replacement.
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Understanding How Often Should You Replace Your Roof
A sturdy roof means good protection for you and your family, so its essential to understand the answer to how often should you replace your roof?
Start by looking for signs of damage internally and externally. If you arent noticing any obvious signs of damage, consider the material used on your roof. Do you have asphalt shingles that will last around 15 years or do you have a clay roof that will last much longer?
These steps will help answer the question, does my roof need to be replaced?
If you think it might be time to pursue roof replacement, contact us today for your free assessment.
When Is The Right Time To Clean My Roof
What most of the roof cleaners recommend is that you have to regularly clean your roof at least once every year. This way, you will be able to know if there are some developing problems on your roof and you will be able to fix it as soon as possible.
Also, you will be able to save money on repairs if you have your roof clean every year. Some problems that you might encounter is discoloration. Yes, you can actually remove this but this discoloration of your roof will then soon come back.
Having your roof regularly cleaned will be able to let you distinguish if these kinds of cases may need some replacement process or not. Pretty sure you would not want to end up fixing the same problem over and over again right?
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The Extent Of The Damage
Is it just a few shingles that blew off in a storm, or did water get under the moisture barrier? Was the deck exposed or damaged? Did you experience a leak because of the damage?
If the damage is limited to a small area or just one section of the roof, repairing can be an economical way to address the problem.
But, if the damage is extensive enough, a repair may end up costing almost as much as replacing the roof.
Replacing the roof can also reveal any underlying issues that led to the problem in the first place.
Signs You Need A Roof Replacement
You wont always see apparent signs that your roof needs replacing. You may find a loose tile or small leak at first that will gradually worsen if you dont fix the problem immediately.Twice-yearly roof inspections can help you recognize signs like:
- Loose or missing shingles
- Leaking or water damage in your home
Neglecting these problems can mean that you experience issues with your home that go beyond the roof. Roofs in this condition can cause internal water damage, welcome pests and critters, and encourage mold growth that triggers health concerns.Roof damage can raise your energy bill when your furnace or air conditioner has to work harder to heat or cool your home. In the worst cases, persistent leaks can cause rot and compromise your homes structural integrity.If you notice any of these signs, get your roof inspected by a professional who can talk to you about your options for repair and replacement.
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Start By Learning Your Roofs History
Gauge whether youre closing in on your roofs expiration date by determining its installation date. If you purchased a new build or owned your home during the last roof replacement, then this should be fairly straightforward. Otherwise, dig a little deeper by reaching out to one of these sources:
- Ask the previous owners: Give good old-fashioned communication a try and talk to the person who sold you the house. Even if they dont know the exact date, they can provide you with a ballpark estimate. If you no longer have their contact details, your real estate agent can look into their records and provide them to you, so long as it would not violate any existing non-disclosure agreements.
- Find the building permit: A roof replacement typically mandates a building permit from the local county. Head to your local municipalitys code enforcement office and request records of building permits for your address. A code or zoning officer will pull up any documents submitted for the project, including scope and building timeline.
- Contact the roof installation company: If you know which company installed the roof, call and ask if they still have a record of the project in their database.
During your research, keep an eye out for any warranties included. A shingle warranty lasts 20 to 50 years, protecting you against manufacturing defects a workmanship warranty covers issues that may occur due to improper installation.
Should You Repair Or Replace Your Roof
By Kevin Mills
Our roofs often face harsh weather conditions throughout the year, so it is natural for them to wear out over time. Even with regular maintenance and inspections, you will need to replace your roof at some point. Deciphering between a simple repair, or a totally new roof installation is no easy feat.
As a homeowner, you have enough on your plate to worry about. Leave the big roofing decisions up to the experts. At RoofCrafters, we have more than 29 years of experience repairing and replacing roofs, so we know a thing or two.
Were glad youre here to learn more about if you should repair your roof, or if you should take the plunge into a roof replacement. We know this can be a big pill to swallow, so we broke it down for you. In this article, youll learn when you should repair your roof, when it may need a replacement and the components that affect these outcomes. Lets jump right in!
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Can I Replace My Own Shingles
The truth is, anyone can replace their own roof, with the help of the many DIY websites. For residential houses, roof replacements typically take two days the first day to remove the old roof, and the second day is to install the new one. A day or two more can be necessary depending on the size of the roof.
What Can I Do To Reduce How Often My Roof Needs To Be Replaced
How often you schedule maintenance for your roofing system will majorly affect its longevity. If your roof isnt properly maintained, then it wont last you as long as it should. Even if there are no apparent problems with the roofing system, you need to contact a roofer at least once, but preferably twice a year for routine roof maintenance.
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Your Flashing Around Valleys Chimneys Windows Etc Appears Damaged
Flashing is often one of the first things to go on the roof, which is critical because flashing is what keeps water from leaking into all the areas on your roof that meet a wall, pipe, ridge, or other roofing elements. If the flashing is cracked or damaged, it leaves your home highly susceptible to leaks. Get these repaired immediately and you should be in good standing.
Loose Missing Or Cracked Shingles
Although roofs are the most ignored part in any house, old, missing, and worn-out shingles are quite easy to spot. They can are seen from a viewable distance across the yard or street.
Missing or cracked shingles on a large area are a sign of a bigger issue. Besides, if your roof has loose shingles that are falling apart, it is a sign that you need to replace your roof.
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It Will Protect Those Walking On Your Roof
We strongly urge that homeowners do not attempt to walk on their roofs themselves this potentially dangerous task should be left to professionals. Still, any time someone does need to walk out on your roof, safety is of the utmost importance. As roofs start to age, however, they can pose a number of safety hazards, such as:
- Collapse: As moisture makes its way under the roof over time and leads to rot and mold development, the underlying wood tends to weaken. As a result, older roofs often lose their strength, meaning they may no longer be able to support the weight of someone walking.
- Slipping: Shingles themselves can also develop mold, and if they do, they often become slippery and create a major fall hazard.
- Tripping: Lifting or missing shingles can cause a person traversing the roof to trip.
Upgrading or replacing your roof will help protect anybody who might have to access the roof of your home, as they will not be dealing with the hazards associated with old, decaying roofing materials.
You Need A Reliable Roofer
Contacting your original builder will spare you from extra spending. Ask about the warranty and see what they can do with your roof. Complete roof replacement or repairs from outside providers will force you to pay for expensive costs.
Removing the old roof is a guarantee of safety and peace of mind. If you have been constantly making repairs, youre just wasting money instead of saving. Its a fact that getting a new roof is costly, but the new one will help you to save more and liberate you from repairs. Ultimately it will give you peace of mind, safety, and security. Your home with a new roof gets an added value in terms of resale.
For all your roofing needs, never hesitate to reach us. Call a professional roofing contractor now Birmingham Roofers will assist you in any way concerning roof repair, installation, or maintenance.
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How Often Should You Replace A Roof
July 13, 2022 by James Brown
Composition shingles can last between 13 and 20 years asphalt shingles between 15 and 30 years and wood shingles between 20 and 25 years. Rubber roofs can last for up to 50 years while metals roof can clock 100 years in Brighton Michigan. There are several factors that determine how long your roof stands. These include maintenance, weather, mechanical impact the roof endures, and if the roof has unfixed damage.
How Often Does A Roof Need To Be Replaced
A roof replacement is never a fun experience. It can be stressful, time-consuming, and, most importantly, expensive.
The less you go through the process, the better. But that doesnt stop you from worrying about how often youll actually have to get your roof replaced. Especially if youve had bad experiences in the past.
For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners understand when and how often they’ll have to replace their roof. Now we want to do the same for you.
We’ll kick this article off with helping you understand when and how often you should replace your roof. After that, we give you the lifespans of the 5 most popular roofing materials, so you know when you should replace your specific roof.
And at the very end, we give you a guide that you and every homeowner needs for a roof replacement.
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It Gives Your Home A Makeover
When you decide that your house needs a roof replacement, you have the opportunity to consider the color and style you want. Making the decision to go with darker or lighter shingles or even a different material entirely can greatly impact the overall appearance of your home. If youre interested in changing the exterior of your house to boost its curb appeal, a roof replacement provides a great opportunity to do so.
Protect Your Home & Wallet
If you drive a car, you probably take it for regular maintenance checks. Your mechanic likely suggests regular maintenance you need, like oil changes between every 12,000 to 16,000 kilometers or changing the air filter. These minor repairs save you from a big maintenance bill down the road, protecting the longevity of your vehicle and saving you money.
Your roofing professional is here to do the same thing instead of waiting for a costly roof replacement, by fixing issues as they arise you will save money in the long run and keep your home safe and comfortable.
Regularly check the condition of your roof and keep an eye out for possible issues that can indicate if your home needs a roof repair or a replacement. If you are considering putting off a costly roof replacement by performing repairs as needed, be sure you are monitoring your roof to ensure you are not putting the value of your home at risk.
So, how can you tell when you need a simple repair and when you need to buckle down and replace the entire roof?
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Decide Whether To Repair Or Replace Your Roof
Say your roof inspection report estimates you should replace your roof in the next five years, detailing several problems with the shingles and flashings. If youre planning to sell within that window, you might wonder whether its best to replace or repair the roof before you list.
Thats a discussion that you should have with your agent as a lot of that is going to depend on the state of the market your house is in, Andrew Oldham advises.
So, if the market is a very hot sellers market and you would expect to get multiple offers anyway, you may not need to go the expensive route.
Your agent will measure the return on investment that various roof modifications will yield and determine whether or not your home needs the upgrade to compete in your market.
Other Factors That Affect The Lifespan Of A Roof
Note that the above lifespans only consider the roofing materials in ideal conditions. But since we live in a world with conditions far from ideal, certain factors may accelerate the deterioration of a roof.
For instance, wooden shingles are more likely to mold and crack in consistently wet weather conditions. As such, their lifespans are lower in such conditions.
This is also the case for asphalt shingles in areas with dramatic temperature changes. The sudden fluctuations in temperature will cause the shingles to crack and age quickly. Asphalt shingles are also quite lightweight and, thus, more likely to come loose in areas of high winds.
Strong winds may pose another problem if you live in an area with a lot of foliage they tend to blow tree branches or even entire trees into the roof, causing extensive damage. If you have good insurance coverage though, you may be able to get insurance to pay for your roof replacement, depending on what damage was done, what caused it and what your policy covers.
On the other hand, clay tile roofs will struggle to last 50 years in colder climates. This is because the constant freezing and thawing damages the tiles, meaning you may have to replace your clay tiles sooner than you expect if you live in a particularly cold area. Fortunately, there is a workaround for this have a roofing expert seal your tiles to reduce the cold weather impacts.
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