​Lifespan of Roofing Materials

We believe our clients should be informed when it comes to deciding on the best type of roof for their home. We understand that purchasing a new roof is not a small decision. A new roof will aesthetically affect your home. Furthermore, different roofing materials will last different amounts of time. These two things should be carefully considered when you are determining the best roof for your home.

Which Roof Lasts the Longest?

There is no simple answer to this question because there are factors that contribute to the wear and tear on roofs. Additionally, the durability of the roofing material as well as how well it can withstand weather extremes plays a part in determining the longevity of a roof.

The five factors that should be considered when shopping for roofing material include:

- Climate - Your local climate, including the amount of rain, wind and weather systems that are common in your area
- Environmental factors - i.e. the risk of wildfires
- Building design - if a building is located in an industrial or commercial area, exhaust, pollution, and chemicals can decrease the life expectancy of a roof
- Material - roofing materials like asphalt shingles, wood shakes, slate, metal, concrete or tile to cover the roof
- Installation - how professionally the roof is installed

Most of these factors, the homeowner does not have control over; however, the homeowner does have control when it comes to the roofing material chosen. Furthermore, the roof must be installed by a professional roofer to increase the life expectancy of your roofing system.

A roof that is not properly installed can end up costing a homeowner thousands of dollars in roof repairs or even a new roof installation. As you can see, a poorly installed roof can cost you in the short-term as well as the long-term.

Additionally, no matter how well a roof is installed, if low-quality roofing materials are used the life expectancy on the roof can be greatly diminished. For best results, you want to use high-quality roofing materials and have the roof installed by a professional.

How long does a roof last? 

The average life expectancy of a roof is between 20 and 25 years. However, the type of materials used can greatly impact the lifespan of the roof. The following information lists the different materials and their expected life expectancy:

Material           Expected Lifespan
Asphalt shingles       20-25 years
Metal/steel             40-60 years
Slate                     50+ years
Tile/concrete             50+ years
Single-ply              25-35 years
Wood shakes             15-18 years


Roofs only last as well as they are maintained. If a roof is not properly maintained, the life expectancy of the roof will be greatly diminished.

Even a roof with lower-quality roofing materials will last longer if it is properly installed and maintained. Conversely, if a high-quality roofing material is used but it is not properly installed or maintained, the lifespan of the roof will be diminished.

Homeowners and business owners must routinely inspect their roofs to avoid unnecessary costs and complications. For this reason, there is no simple answer to which roof will last the longest. There are many factors when determining the life expectancy of roofing materials. 
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Ultimate Roofing can help you on your next roofing project. Call and set up an appointment.