How Long Does a New Roof Last – Factors that Determine Roof Longevity

roof installation

Whether you are currently in the process of buying a new home or you want to know whether you need to prepare for costly roof replacement any time soon on the home you are living in, here are a few things you should know about what to expect of your current roof and the answer to the question “how long does a new roof last”.

Asphalt Shingle Roofs

3-tab shingles, the most basic asphalt shingle varieties are warranted for 10-20 years, while stronger, more resistant architectural varieties come with warranties of 15-30 years. However, the longevity of your roof will depend on several factors – 3-tab shingles are warranted only for areas where wind speed does not exceed 60-70 mph, so if you live in an area that gets higher winds, your roof should be covered in architectural shingles.

There are many signs that tell you your existing roof is reaching the end of its lifespan. Frequent leaks, major cracks, large areas on the roof where the shingles have no surface granules might indicate that you should prepare for roof replacement. However, if most of the shingles on the roof still look good and your leaks are caused by a recent storm, you can probably prolong the life of your roof by simply replacing the damaged shingles with new ones. Experienced roofing companies Omaha providers can inspect your roof and offer roofing services to meet your needs.

Metal Roofs

Most metal roofs are warranted for about 30-50 years. Standard metal roofing systems can withstand winds ranging at 90-110 mph, while fortified metal roofs can resist winds of 150 mph without sustaining any damage. While in the past metal roof systems came in the form of large panels, nowadays metal roofing can be made using metal shingles that are cheaper and offer the same durability.

The most important sign that indicates that your metal roof needs to be replaced is extensive rust and the leaks caused by the damaged metal components that have lost their integrity. Leaks that recur in the same area or leaks that appear in different rooms one after the other tell you that your roof might suffer from any issues that affect not only the surface of the roof, but other roof components as well.

Clay and Concrete Tiles

The tiles made from concrete or clay are not cheap and not suitable for every home (both clay and concrete are heavy materials and many lightweight buildings cannot support that kind of weight), they make excellent, attractive and durable solutions for solid buildings. Most clay and concrete systems are warranted for 50-100 years and they are suitable for any climate area, but they need to be installed by a professional roofer to provide that kind of longevity.

The signs that tell you roof replacement is around the corner is tile cracking and recurring leaks that do not respond well to professional repairs.

As you see, the answer to the question “how long does a new roof last?” is complex and it depends on lots of different factors, so try to figure out your own answer based on general warranty periods, the features of your climate zone and on how frequently you need to do repairs on your roof.