It’s a simple question with a complicated answer. Manufacturer warranties currently guarantee asphalt shingles a 15- to 30-year useful life. Why the wide span? Vented properly and installed correctly, you should get around 80-85% of the life span out of an asphalt roof. That means you can expect to get about 20-22 years out of your 3-tab shingle roof and 25-28 years out of your dimensional shingles. If it’s not cared for properly, that 30 year shingle will only last 12 to 15 years.
Climate, weather and environmental factors also play a part. Homeowners in areas enduring long summers with high heat may need to replace roofing sooner than homeowners in cooler regions. Most damaging are sudden spiking temperatures—from 40 or 50 degrees at night to well over 100 by midday, for example. Similarly, in areas like Peoria with severe winters, ice dams may aggravate tiny cracks and fissures that eventually require repairs.
Roof pitch also affects shingle life. The steeper the slope, the likelier it is that water and ice can drain off quickly and not remain to become destructive. Materials and workmanship also determine the lifespan of a roof. Partnering with a partner to repair roof problems will increase how long your roof lasts before you need to replace it.
This topic is also confusing. Some shingle colors have been shown to lower attic temperatures. Lighter-colored shingles reflect more light and stay cooler in sunlight so lighter-colored roof shingles help keep attic temperatures—and your air conditioning bill—down.
But if this means light shingles will last longer than dark shingles is questionable. Some studies conclude that since heat always increases molecular activity, and since dark shingles always run hotter, the heat factor alone dictates a shorter life for dark shingles. Yet another study suggests that the sun’s UV rays play a much bigger role in shingle degradation than heat.
So when you replace it, just pick a color that you like!
Algae and fungus growth can also damage roofing in perennially damp or subtropical areas. Depending on where you live, you might want to consider replacing with algae-resistant shingles, some of whose ceramic granules are coated with leachable copper to prevent discoloration and long-term damage from algae and moss growth. Ask the Kelly Construction team for their opinion.
Look for asphalt granules in gutter runoff. Various elements including hail, heavy rains, age, and heat, can weaken the granules on older asphalt shingles and cause them to fall off and run down the roof into the gutter system. Decay, cracking, and missing wood around the fascia and soffits can indicate water damage somewhere along the roof or a problem with gutter drainage.
You need an experienced restoration specialist that can take care of every aspect of getting your property back to normal. Kelley Construction Contractors, Inc. provides comprehensive water damage services that will restore your property back to its original condition, if not better. Just call for help. With teams dispatched from three physical locations, they can quickly serve the area about 70 miles around Peoria, Illinois.
