How Long Can I Expect My New Roof Shingles to Last?

You’ve just updated your shingled roof—how exciting!  Roof shingles are an essential part of your roofing system, protecting the underlayers from high winds, brutal winters, and impact-related damages.  These strong pieces of material are typically comprised of asphalt, but despite their durability, they’re not invincible.  Every now and again they’ll need to be replaced, but if you’ve just done that job (or had a professional give you a hand instead), you’re probably wondering how often this duty needs to be done.  Just how much time do you have to enjoy your new shingles before it’s time to replace them again?

The Functionality of Roofing Shingles

Asphalt shingles are one of the most popular types of shingle used and there probably isn’t one American neighborhood without a roof comprised of asphalt shingles.  They boast a traditional look at an affordable price thanks to the ease of manufacturing and installation.  These shingles are made of bitumen, more commonly known as asphalt, and like most roofs, are installed over a waterproof underlayment.

Shingles face strong winds, protect your roof and home from ice dams, heavy snow, and brutally cold (or hot) temperatures, and act as defensive line against renegade tree branches and other falling objects.  Shingles battle the outer elements to help the more delicate layers of the roofing system survive.  While they’re designed to bear most of the aggressive elements, they do fall victim to breaking or becoming detached entirely.

Now that you understand the functionality of an asphalt shingle, you’ll learn that there are a lot of factors that affect its ultimate lifespan:

• The climate of your home
• Exposure to extreme bouts of weather
• The care you put into your roof and its shingles

These are just a few major factors that can greatly impact your shingles’ longevity.  Most manufacturers can estimate that your new shingles will last anywhere from 20-30 years.  Roof maintenance and climate conditions are perhaps the biggest determining factors that will help you meet this estimated lifetime.

Roofing Maintenance & Upkeep

Your roof protects you but to ensure a happy and healthy roof, you must take care of it in return.  Roof maintenance is critical to establishing a stable roof and is task every homeowner should partake in, no matter its current age.

A roof inspection should be conducted by a trained professional annually or when needed, like after a nasty storm may have caused damage to your roof’s shingles.  Even a severe ice storm, heavy snow that sits on the roof’s surface, or a storm with strong winds calls for the need of a roof inspection.

While you might assume that if you can’t visibly see roof damage, then your roof is in fine condition, that’s not necessarily the case.  Professional roof inspectors are trained to spot damage that the average homeowner misses, especially minor issues that could later lead to more extreme damages and need for costly repairs. A roof inspector will inform you of the actions you need to take concerning repairs to prevent structural damage and secure the integrity of your roofing system.

Lifespan of Your Shingles

Although it’d be helpful to have a cemented lifespan of each individual shingle like food manufacturers confidently stamp on jugs of milk, that’s unfortunately not applicable for your roof.  There are many factors to consider when determining just how long it’ll be until you need to replace your roof’s shingles.

Weigh elements like exposure to the violent weather and outer elements, the temperatures of your region, the tree limbs that hang above it, and how often you maintain your roof and have it inspected.  Considering all of these factors together and you should have a good idea of how many years you can expect your new shingles to last.

When you do need to replace your shingles, here are a few key symptoms to keep an eye out for that are sure-fire signs it’s time to get the job done:

• Shingles are missing from the roof
• Shingles are missing granules
• Shingles are curling or buckling
• Shingles are noticeably cracked
• Roof appears to be sagging
• Algae has damaged the shingles, causing dark streaks or stains
• Home is experiencing roof leaks
• Gutters contain shingle granules

Shingle damage, unless caused by a sudden and aggressive storm or severe weather, usually doesn’t happen overnight.  Instead, it’s the everyday wear and tear that can break down the integrity of a shingle, emphasizing the upmost importance of a routine roof inspection.  For many homeowners, the deterioration of new shingles happens over the course of many years—roughly estimated to be 20-30 years by manufacturers for an asphalt shingled roof.

By keeping your roof healthy, you’ll be preventing things like water damage and curbing the need to replace it sooner than expected.  Roofs are an investment, and when maintained properly, your shingles will keep you protected for decades to come.

Time To Replace?

Your roof’s life depends on one thing: you.  Keeping an eye on its condition, scheduling a roof inspection, having it professionally cleaned, and making sure your attic is properly ventilated and insulated can make your roof last its lifetime.  Don’t cut it short by neglecting it.

The average roof life can be extended if you have the right materials and it’s properly installed into your roof. You want to have something that’s durable and appealing. Asphalt shingles are possibly the best for energy efficiency, durability and curb appeal.

That’s the type of roof you get with Feldco. On top of that, we have factory trained installers that are ready to install asphalt shingles with the correct precision. Speak to a product specialist and get a free quote today.