Extending Your Roof’s Lifespan

When you pay for a new roof, it should last 20, 30, or even 50 years depending on the materials used. You can help your roof lifespan reach its maximum length by making sure your attic is both insulated and ventilated. Keep your gutters clean and conduct roof maintenance every few years.

Maintenance and Inspections

Naturally, the biggest factors in a roof lifespan are the quality of the materials and workmanship when the roof is put on. Metal and tile roofs can last twice as long as asphalt shingle roofs, but it also costs more to put on.

Workmanship is also a factor because there are so many opportunities to do the job badly or skimp on materials. This is why Plumlee Construction offers a LIFETIME Warranty on all roofing services. If you’re buying a house, make sure you have the roof inspected by a roofing contractor and find out from the seller what year the roof was put on.

For the homeowner, the primary roof maintenance responsibilities are:

  • Keep the gutters clean to prevent unnecessary water damage to the lower deck board, and the fascia and soffit boards along the gutter line.
  • Remove debris from the roof such as tree branches and leaves that may collect along roof valleys.
  • Watch for ice dams that may develop in the winter when snow on the roof is partially melted.
  • Have the roof professionally inspected by a roofing contractor every two or three years, and have small repairs made as needed — such as resealing weak spots that may begin to develop along the flashing.

Attic Ventilation

Poor attic ventilation can cause a number of problems — including premature aging of the roof.

During the summer months the temperature in an attic without proper airflow can hit 160 degrees. Such superheated air can penetrate attic insulation, making it harder to keep the home cool and even damaging wallpaper and paint on the floor directly below.

Up on the roof it can “bake” your shingles, making them decay more quickly — and the rafters holding up the roof can be weakened by warping and cracking.

In the winter, various household appliances, bathtubs, showers and cooking vapors can contribute to excess moisture build-up. Improperly ventilated attics will allow this moisture to collect and cling to the underside of the roof. There, it will condense and fall, soaking the attic insulation and reducing its efficiency.

Air circulation in the attic is based on a balance between air intake vents in the soffits and air exhaust at or near the roof’s peak.

The Federal Housing Administration recommends a minimum of at least 1 square foot of attic ventilation (both intake and exhaust) for every 300 square feet of attic space. For example, if your attic is 900 square feet, you need a total of 3 square feet of ventilation. This amount is generally divided equally between intake and exhaust ventilation to ensure proper air flow through the attic.

Insulation and Roofing

When we think of insulation, we usually think of materials placed in attics, walls and crawl spaces that retard heat transfer and help keep our houses and offices cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Insulation can also protect the structural components and integrity of a building. Insulating a roof not only helps reduce energy bills and provides comfort for those inhabiting the space below, it also extends the roof lifespan.

Temperatures on roofs can rise up to 90 degrees higher than ambient air temperature. When exposed to sunlight in warm climates, roofs transfer radiant heat to the surfaces of objects below in attics and buildings. Insulating attic spaces with radiant barriers and reflective insulation reduces transfer of radiant heat, reflecting it back to the roof. This decreases the temperature within the structure.

The damaging effect of elevated roof temperatures to roof materials and roofing systems is becoming more recognized not only by builders and architects, but also by environmental and conservation organizations and governments. Heat causes chemical reactions of roofing materials and compounds, which causes degradation of the roofing system. This, in turn, shortens the roof lifespan. For every 18-degree increase in temperature, the serviceable life of roofing materials is halved.

Construction materials account for approximately 25 percent of the solid waste generated in the U.S., and roofing materials constitute 25 percent of that waste. By prolonging the life of a roof, the frequency of reroofing is reduced, thus conserving materials and reducing waste.

Roof insulation can be applied to existing roof systems. Particular materials are suited for different types and slopes of roofs, including steep-sloped, low-sloped and flat. Insulation materials include latex and acrylic barriers, bituminous asphalt, elastomeric (non-bituminous) coatings, fibered coatings and polystyrene or rigid foam panels. The incorporation of light-colored pigments and reflective materials into traditional coatings provides protection against damage from solar radiation and heat gain.

When a new roof is required, white or light-colored materials provide thermal insulation, reduce roof temperatures and prolong the life of a roof. Traditional roof materials like clay tiles and shingles are now available in reflective materials that reduce thermal transfer and promote solar reflection.

Algae and Moss Growth

Asphalt shingle roofs that are in constant shade tend to attract algae growth which feeds off of microscopic particles in the limestone used in the shingles.

This growth can be seen as a black or dark green staining on the roof and many homeowners are eager to get rid of it.

However, whether the presence of the algae is detrimental to the roof lifespan is a debatable question. The impact, if any, is minimal and it’s possible to do more harm to the roof by vigorously cleaning it.

Roof cleaning isn’t necessarily harmful if done professionally, and many homeowners value the aesthetics of a clean roof. But strictly from a roof longevity standpoint there is probably little to be gained.

Want to get started with a new roof? Take advantage of our roofing services and contact us today!