When the topic of home improvement comes to mind, most people tend to think of painting their exteriors, remodeling their living rooms, or upgrading their bathrooms. While there isn’t a bad home improvement project idea, however, there’s one part of any house that every owner should consider looking at: the roof.
It may not be as disposable as other fixtures at home, such as light bulbs and door handles, but a roof is not as long-lasting or eternal as high-quality concrete and well-connected structure. The main problem that concerns roofs, in general, is that people don’t know that they need to be replaced sooner or later, more so know when actually to change them.
As your home’s first line of defense from natural conditions, such as hail, lightning, wind, and storms, it doesn’t take a genius to know that a roof can take quite a beating after a certain period. Fortunately, knowing when and why you should replace your roof is a task that only calls for awareness and a quick guide. To better understand the entire process of roof replacement and know your own roof better, let’s go over two potential questions that you may have in mind:
“What affects the entire lifespan of my roof?”
The longevity of any type of roof is determined with the help of several crucial factors, such as:
1. The quality of labor that was used during the roof installation
One of the most important factors to consider when gauging the overall potential lifespan of any type of roof is the quality of work or labor that was put into installing the entire system. Labor quality plays a significant role in determining a roof’s lifespan because it is one of the two main direct factors that sets how long an entire system can last right off the bat.
2. The material of the roofing itself
Another important factor to consider when gauging the overall lifespan of any type of roof is the type of material that it uses. Every roofing material option that’s currently available in the market has a specific expected lifespan that is inherent in its own composition. For instance, a laminated roofing shingle can last up to 30 years, while asphalt roofing shingles last between 15 until 18 years, and wood shingles hold its form anywhere between 30 to 45 years on average.
3. The weather conditions the roof is subject to
As opposed to the first two factors that affect the overall lifespan of any roof, the weather conditions that an entire system is subject to plays a much more arbitrary role as its impact can depend on a wide range of details. Out of all the different weather-related details to consider, however, heat and humidity play the most significant role in determining the overall lifespan of your roof because they significantly affect the roof daily.
In the case of Minnesota, however, heat and humidity may not be present, but other temperature conditions and effects, such as hail, snow, and snowstorms, can also significantly reduce the lifespan of a roof.
“When should I replace my roof?”
The main difficulty with determining when it’s time to replace your home’s roof lies in the fact that it can be quite subjective because of all the different factors that have to come into play.
Aside from the average life expectancy of your roofing materials and build quality, you may have to give or take a few years according to any weather damage history, presence of minor leaks, and the likes. When it comes to accurately answering the question of when you should replace your roof, however, the most cost and time-effective way to do so is by calling a roofing professional to inspect your roof annually.
Final words
Knowing the answers to important questions about roof replacement can make a significant difference in saving a significant amount of money on avoidable repair and time spent on complete replacement jobs. If you’re looking to keep your roof in tip-top shape or currently suspect that it is in need of replacement, give
Minnesota’s foremost roofing experts
at Advanced Exteriors MN a call today!