How Long Does a Roof Last?
Life of a Roof
If you are trying to decide on what material to use on your roof, take into account how long it is going to last and how much the repair costs will be in the future. Each type of material has it’s own lifespan and cost that you must take into account.
The most common type of material used on residential roofs is asphalt shingles. These are installed pretty quickly and easily with some help. They hold together pretty well, but heavy storms can make you lose some shingles. They do not have any definite life span, but they must be taken care of or they will end up broken. You can probably expect your roof to last around ten years or so if taken care of properly.
Slate is a heavy roof material that looks great. Pieces of slate are thin and lay on the roof like shingles do. The slate will last much longer than the shingles though as long as you do not go walking around on them. You can expect your slate roof to last up to 200 years, only having to do routine maintenance.
Ceramic tile can be expected to make it a hundred years. This material is expensive and the costs of both the material and the repairs make this roof unattractive for those on a budget. The tile should last forever if you keep everything fixed up. Heavy stone slabs, a lot like the tiles, will practically last forever. With regular maintenance, only the building falling down altogether would end it’s life.
Thin sheets of copper can be used as a roof quite well. The waterproofing almost comes natural for the copper sheets. Copper roofing is very expensive but once installed, not much can destroy it. The flexibility adds the versatility of this metal.
Finally, metal roofing, not including copper, is quite cheap. You can make a roof out of sheet metal in a short amount of time by quickly screwing them into place in the rafters. Be careful if you try and step on the metal sheet after you put it up. They can be very slippery and are not meant to be walked on. This roof could last you for hundreds of years, but if you wanted it to come down, you just pop the screws back off and down she goes.
How long your roof should last has to do with many variables. It all depends on where you live, how the weather is, if you have people walking on your roof, and what material that the roof is made out of. Some materials have long lives that and little available repairs. If you find signs of moisture, rot, and mold, you need to do something about your roof right away. Bacteria will grow quickly and start to reproduce.
The best thing you can do is contact a local roof repair guy and discuss what options are available to you. Try to utilize the cheapest materials that last the longest time. Keep your roof inspected and watch for any of the signs that it may be deteriorating.
The most common type of material used on residential roofs is asphalt shingles. These are installed pretty quickly and easily with some help. They hold together pretty well, but heavy storms can make you lose some shingles. They do not have any definite life span, but they must be taken care of or they will end up broken. You can probably expect your roof to last around ten years or so if taken care of properly.
Slate is a heavy roof material that looks great. Pieces of slate are thin and lay on the roof like shingles do. The slate will last much longer than the shingles though as long as you do not go walking around on them. You can expect your slate roof to last up to 200 years, only having to do routine maintenance.
Ceramic tile can be expected to make it a hundred years. This material is expensive and the costs of both the material and the repairs make this roof unattractive for those on a budget. The tile should last forever if you keep everything fixed up. Heavy stone slabs, a lot like the tiles, will practically last forever. With regular maintenance, only the building falling down altogether would end it’s life.
Thin sheets of copper can be used as a roof quite well. The waterproofing almost comes natural for the copper sheets. Copper roofing is very expensive but once installed, not much can destroy it. The flexibility adds the versatility of this metal.
Finally, metal roofing, not including copper, is quite cheap. You can make a roof out of sheet metal in a short amount of time by quickly screwing them into place in the rafters. Be careful if you try and step on the metal sheet after you put it up. They can be very slippery and are not meant to be walked on. This roof could last you for hundreds of years, but if you wanted it to come down, you just pop the screws back off and down she goes.
How long your roof should last has to do with many variables. It all depends on where you live, how the weather is, if you have people walking on your roof, and what material that the roof is made out of. Some materials have long lives that and little available repairs. If you find signs of moisture, rot, and mold, you need to do something about your roof right away. Bacteria will grow quickly and start to reproduce.
The best thing you can do is contact a local roof repair guy and discuss what options are available to you. Try to utilize the cheapest materials that last the longest time. Keep your roof inspected and watch for any of the signs that it may be deteriorating.