Every roofing product comes with a specific life expectancy depending on the type of material used to manufacture it. Sadly, several homeowners have to contend with performing frequent repairs on their roofs because material selection isn't the only thing that affects the service life of a roof structure. Here are a number of other factors that can affect the life of your residential roof:
- Quality of installation work: Not even the most durable roofing materials can survive for long following poor installation. If insulation is insufficient and ventilation is poor, warm, damp air can accumulate beneath the surface of your roof structure, leading to rot, mold and mildew growth, and other moisture-induced damage, for example. And, if your roof isn't properly waterproofed, your roofing can suffer from severe and costly leak issues. Employ a reputable roofer to ensure your roof is built airtight and waterproof.
- Roof pitch and orientation: Besides being architecturally pleasant to look at, higher sloped roofs generally enjoy more prolonged life than flat roofs. This is because high pitch roofs shed stormwater, ice, and snow much faster, avoiding problems such as water ponding and ice-damming. This, in turn, reduces the rate at which roofing materials or finishing erode. The positioning of the roof surface also matters a lot. Take an asphalt shingle roofed home located in areas that experience hot summer days for the most part of the year, for example. More exposure to solar heat can cause the south-facing shingles to become weak and brittle over time. This will cause some parts of your roof to suffer more wear than others. Likewise, the north-facing roof shingles tend to remain wet longer and the higher humidity level can reduce their lifespan.
- Maintenance attention: Even a properly installed roof will need routine maintenance to keep it in good shape for longer. Persistent rain, extreme temperatures, strong winds, and other harsh weather conditions can leave your roof extremely dilapidated. Having a professional inspect your roof regularly will surely provide your roof the care it needs to keep serving you reliably for longer. Neglect your roof and you might end up replacing it sooner than you had planned for.
- Climatic conditions: The climate of the region where you reside has a major influence on the service life of your roof. In general, proximity to inclement weather patterns, including excessive solar heat, prolonged winter spells, and heavy rain, will shorten your roof's lease of life.
The best way to reduce the need for repairs and extend the life of your roof is to work with a roof repairs specialist.
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