How long should a roof last?
I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard this question. Homeowners are sadly looking at their 16-25 year old roof and wondering why it did not last any longer than that. And, with the cost of roofing soaring, this is becoming a more important question.
Here’s the answer: The life of a roof depends upon a combination of factors. But the single most important factor is how it is installed. I know, your friend the roofer has been in the business for a million years, so he knows what he’s doing AND he’s good and cheap. Guess what? Most of roofers we meet have no idea how a roof is really supposed to be installed. And they don’t know about the new technology that makes a roof capable of standing up to even the toughest weather conditions. They just do it the same way they learned from someone before them without ever discovering the real secrets to roof longevity.
Here’s the real story: A 30-year roof should last AT LEAST 30 years, not 18-22 years. A 50-year roof should NEVER give you a major problem or force you to replace it unless the weather throws something really horrible at it. (The people who buy your house after you leave this Earth may have to do something, but you should never have to worry about it again.)
The secret to longevity is in the “little” stuff. It’s in how many nails are used. It’s in the type of underlayment used and how it is installed. It is in how walls and chimney’s are flashed and sealed. It’s in the time and care that is taken to make sure everything is right. A roof is supposed to be as watertight as a boat. One little leak point can ruin your house as fast as a small leak can sink a boat.
The biggest problems we see were caused by the roofer,… not weather, not age. If you decide it’s time to buy a roof, demand to know exactly how the roofer intends to install the roof. Ask for exact materials and why they are using those. If they start justifying that what they do is good enough, find someone else.
Remember: “good enough” in roofing is never good enough. It will cost you dearly 10 or 20 years from now, when inflation has made a roof cost as much as your house did.
Roofing is one of those things where you buy the best and save for years, or buy to save and pay a lot more over and over with repairs and early replacement.
If you live in Lancaster County, Berks County, or western Chester County, Pennsylvania, and you are looking for a roof that will last, give us a call. We will be happy to show you how a roof should really be installed to last as long as the manufacturer intended it to last.
Wes Ball, Roofing Specialist at Zimmerman’s Roofing
