Asphalt shingles that are properly installed and maintained can help to shield the rest of the roof from moisture, wind, or sun damage. They can also help to protect your home from pests of various kinds that want to make their way into your house. Of course, like anything else in or on your home, shingles have a limited useful life.
Shingles Should Last for 20 Years
On average, an asphalt shingle will last for two decades. This assumes that the shingle itself was manufactured properly, was installed properly, and was properly maintained throughout its functional existence. It also assumes that it was exposed to relatively calm and predictable weather conditions.
How Weather Impacts a Shingle’s Useful Life
Shingles can lose granules if they are exposed to excessive amounts of ice or wind. They can also become stiff or brittle if they are exposed to extreme temperature swings such as those that might occur during the late fall or winter months. It’s also possible for temperatures to vary wildly between the daytime and nighttime hours, which can cause moisture on a shingle to freeze on its surface.
The shingle itself might also be vulnerable to expansion and contraction as temperatures vacillate throughout the day. Shingles that are consistently wet from rain, ice, or snow may be vulnerable to being eaten by pests or animals that make their way onto your roof. In addition to being damaged by pests, you may have to deal with a gap through which unwanted visitors can get into your home.
How Improper Installation Can Impact Useful Life Expectancy
A contractor that doesn’t use starter shingles may provide a space for water to get into eaves and rakes. The water may then work its way under the first row of shingles and cause significant damage. There is also a chance that moisture will seep into your home, which could allow mold or mildew growth.
If shingles are not nailed to the roof decking properly, they may not stay in place during high wind events. They may also become improperly aligned over time regardless of the elements, which can create gaps for water and pests to get through. Depending on where the nails are placed, a mistake could result in nullifying any warranties provided by the shingle manufacturer. It may also make it harder to file a successful insurance claim when it comes time to fix the roof or repair secondary damage caused by improper installation.
How Poor Maintenance Can Reduce a Shingle’s Useful Life
When a few shingles are brittle, curling up, or missing from your roof, it may be possible to fix the issue by simply replacing those individual shingles. However, if you don’t have them replaced, you run the risk of the problem spreading to a larger portion of your roof. At that point, even a repair job may cost hundreds of dollars and take considerable time to complete.
If you allow a problem to linger for too long, you may have to replace the shingles, the roof decking, and other roofing components. You may also have to make repairs to the inside of your home because water or pests were allowed to enter.
Fortunately, our experts at Jimmy's Roofing in Spokane, WA can perform a roof inspection to find any issues, and they can do it while it’s still easy and relatively inexpensive to correct them. Ideally, you’ll have your roof inspected once a year since it may not be possible to detect a problem just by looking at it from your driveway or backyard patio.
In the event that we find any problems, our team can repair them or replace your roof in a timely and convenient manner. We also offer roof cleaning services, which can be ideal if shingles are covered with leaves, algae, or anything else that might cause damage and reduce the roofing’s useful life.
If you’re in need of roof maintenance services, put your confidence in our team of professionals. In addition to asphalt shingles, we can also install composite shingles or use tile and slate on top of your home. Emergency repair services are available in the event of a leak, roof collapse, or other serious problem that occurs with no warning. If you’re anywhere in the Spokane vicinity, our crew at Jimmy's Roofing has you covered, so call us today.
#thejimmysWAY