What kind of roof does your house have? What is the life expectancy? Most people don't think about their roof, until something happens to it; shingles can be swept away during a windstorm, or a leak could happen, letting water in. There are a few common kinds of materials used for roofing:
Asphalt shingles, which are easily installed and are a good inexpensive option. There are lots of style and colour choices, range of prices and options, and it is easily repairable and is fire resistant. The usual life expectancy is 20 years.
Wood shingles or shakes are quite commonly used because of their durability and aesthetically pleasing look. If the wood roof is maintained carefully and of course, expertly installed, they can last for 25 years or more. This is rated Class C for fire rating, and some has no rating. Check your local building codes. If your roof is treated with a fire-resistant substance, your rating could be raised to Class A.
Concrete or clay tiles are fireproof, attractive, and have a wide variety of style and colour to choose from. These tiles do not need much maintenance, and they are strong and long lasting, even over 30 years of weather. Extra framing may be required with these tiles, as they add extra weight to the roof.
Tar and gravel roofs work best when the roof has a low slope to it. It consists of layers of asphalt and tar paper that are fastened to the roof surface with molten asphalt applications. The layers are laminated and then covered with gravel to hold them down and protect against UV degradation. The life expectancy for this type of roof is 20 years.
Metal roofs do well in country that has heavy annual snowfalls. This type of roof sheds snow very well, reducing the risk of collapse. If a homeowner takes proper care of a correctly installed metal roof, it could be functional for more than 30 years. There are other advantages to metal roofs, as they are actually light compared to most roofing materials, and they do well in place with harsh weather patterns.
Maintain your roof
Whatever type of roof you have, you can help improve its lifespan by doing an inspection at least once a year. Keep an eye out for curled edges, worn granulars, or cracks in your asphalt shingles on your home. Hire someone who is qualified to remove snow from your roof if you have heavy snowfall in the winter months. Your home will benefit from snow removal, by keeping leaks from occurring. Be sure that during other seasons and fall especially, you clear debris from your home's eavestroughs. Doing these basic necessities for your roof will add years to it's life.
Review your home insurance policy
Home insurance is a basic necessity to protect a homeowner if an emergency occurs. Normally included in these policies are wind damage, hail, snow or ice weight damage, and falling objects, to name a few examples. Damage that is caused by basic wear and tear is not covered, however. If your shingles blow off because the roof was old and in poor repair, your insurance policy may not respond, or may only cover a portion of the damage. Some policies limit the payment for roof damage to its actual cash value (ACV) or depreciated value, while others will pay to repair or replace the roof.
Asphalt shingles, which are easily installed and are a good inexpensive option. There are lots of style and colour choices, range of prices and options, and it is easily repairable and is fire resistant. The usual life expectancy is 20 years.
Wood shingles or shakes are quite commonly used because of their durability and aesthetically pleasing look. If the wood roof is maintained carefully and of course, expertly installed, they can last for 25 years or more. This is rated Class C for fire rating, and some has no rating. Check your local building codes. If your roof is treated with a fire-resistant substance, your rating could be raised to Class A.
Concrete or clay tiles are fireproof, attractive, and have a wide variety of style and colour to choose from. These tiles do not need much maintenance, and they are strong and long lasting, even over 30 years of weather. Extra framing may be required with these tiles, as they add extra weight to the roof.
Tar and gravel roofs work best when the roof has a low slope to it. It consists of layers of asphalt and tar paper that are fastened to the roof surface with molten asphalt applications. The layers are laminated and then covered with gravel to hold them down and protect against UV degradation. The life expectancy for this type of roof is 20 years.
Metal roofs do well in country that has heavy annual snowfalls. This type of roof sheds snow very well, reducing the risk of collapse. If a homeowner takes proper care of a correctly installed metal roof, it could be functional for more than 30 years. There are other advantages to metal roofs, as they are actually light compared to most roofing materials, and they do well in place with harsh weather patterns.
Maintain your roof
Whatever type of roof you have, you can help improve its lifespan by doing an inspection at least once a year. Keep an eye out for curled edges, worn granulars, or cracks in your asphalt shingles on your home. Hire someone who is qualified to remove snow from your roof if you have heavy snowfall in the winter months. Your home will benefit from snow removal, by keeping leaks from occurring. Be sure that during other seasons and fall especially, you clear debris from your home's eavestroughs. Doing these basic necessities for your roof will add years to it's life.
Review your home insurance policy
Home insurance is a basic necessity to protect a homeowner if an emergency occurs. Normally included in these policies are wind damage, hail, snow or ice weight damage, and falling objects, to name a few examples. Damage that is caused by basic wear and tear is not covered, however. If your shingles blow off because the roof was old and in poor repair, your insurance policy may not respond, or may only cover a portion of the damage. Some policies limit the payment for roof damage to its actual cash value (ACV) or depreciated value, while others will pay to repair or replace the roof.
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