Selecting the roofing material and its design is not an easy decision. Their appearance impacts the overall aesthetics of the home. Besides, the more important factor associated with roofing is the period that it will last. Below is a discussion on the roof materials and their durability.
Several factors contribute to the wear and tear occurring to the roof over a long period of time. Besides, it is also important to consider the durability of the material chosen. The five important factors to consider are:
Local climate – this includes the prevailing rain and wind conditions.
Environmental factors – this includes wildlife hazards as well.
Building design – this includes how the design is not prone to possible hazards. For instance, construction in a commercial region is more probable to face residue and exhaust hazards rising from the chemical industries. Such factors reduces the life of the roofing.
Material – this includes the material choice for the roof such as metal, tile/concrete, foam, slate, wood shingle, and asphalt.
Implementation – this implies how well the roof has been installed.
The homeowner has only a limited power to choose the five factors mentioned above. One of the factors that the homeowner can decide is the material to be used for roofing. Further, it is important to ensure that the works are completed by professional general contractors. Irregular installation of roofs could incur thousands of dollars in expense for homeowners. This includes both long-term and short-term repair work. In other extreme cases, a second roof might be required to be installed.
Remember that if you install lower quality materials in the right way, it could last longer than the high-quality materials installed in the wrong way by an incompetent contractor.
Type of Roof That Lasts the Longest
The average life span of a roof is 20-25 years. There are also materials which have a much higher life span than this. Below is the data on the life span of roofing materials.
However, some materials have quite good lifespan. Below, we summarize the primary roof types and their associated, average lifespan:
- Metal/Steel – 40-60 years
- Slate – 50+ years
- Foam – 20-25 years
- Single ply – 25-35 years
- Built-up (BUR) – 20-30 years
- Wood Shingle – 15-18 years
- Asphalt shingle – 20-25 years
- Tile/Concrete – 50+ years
Overall, it is necessary to understand that the better the maintenance of the roofs, the longer it will stand.