Roofing Material Options
When a homeowner makes a selection of a roofing material, they should, take the roofing material’s lifespan into account because this determines the overall lifespan of the roof. And that has an impact on long term cost.
Roofing style, materials, and the climate in the area where the home is located are amongst the factor that affect a roof’s lifespan. It’s generally best to choose roofing products that have nearly the same lifespan to avoid piece by piece repairs throughout a ten to fifteen year period. Generally, roofing materials last for about twenty years. That assumes proper maintenance and no significant weather damage. Some materials have a lifespan of as much as 50 years while some others last only 10 years. Here is a list of some common roofing materials along with lifespans.
The average lifespan of asphalt roofing is from 15 to 20 years with proper maintenance. Asphalt roofing materials are one of the most common types of roofing materials used throughout the nation because of the low cost of the materials and the ease of repairs.
The average lifespan of fiberglass roofing is from 15 to 20 years. Little maintenance is required for fiberglass roofs, and they come in many different styles and colors to match almost any desired look. Fiberglass roofs resist water and mold because they don’t have organic components.
Wooden shakes and shingles are common in the north eastern United States. These roofing materials will generally last for about 15 to 20 years, and can even last for as many as 30 years if the shakes and shingles are well maintained.
With an average lifespan of 40 to 75 years, slate roofing materials are amongst the longest lasting roofing products.
Metal roofing lasts nearly 50 years. Metal roofs come in a variety of colors, finishes and styles, and can even resemble tiles and wooden shingles. These roofing products are nearly indestructible from weather and can be installed over the current roof.
A less well known option is rubber roofing. It’s easy to install, to maintain, and it lasts a long time. It can be a single sheet cut to fit the roof or shingles. In 1980 the very first rubber roof was installed. It was in Wisconsin. It’s still doing its job after nearly 30 years.
So you see, there are many different roofing materials each with their own strengths and weaknesses.
