How Often Should You Repair Your Roof?

9/2/2021 (Permalink)

If your house suffered damage in a storm, it is vital to check the roof and make repairs as soon as necessary.

The old saying out of sight, out of mind shouldn’t apply to your roof. Your roof is subject to the harshest of elements. Failing to repair your roof can cause significant damage inside your home — not to mention put you at risk of building code violations.

A lack of visible signs of damage inside your home might make you think you don’t need to repair your roof. However, structural damage can occur before you realize it. The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) recommends checking your roof twice a year for possible damage.

When checking your roof, look for the following issues:

• Missing, cracked, broken, or lose shingles
• Sagging caused by excess weight (snow, too many shingle layers, etc.)
• Mold or rot or other signs of water damage
• Dark spots — a type of algae that isn’t harmful to the roof itself but over time, it can dry out the shingles and cause damage.

If your house suffered damage in a storm, it is vital to check the roof and make repairs as soon as necessary. In Dallas, you can call on SERVPRO of Richardson to help remediate any storm damage to your roof.

How Often Should You Repair Your Roof?

As soon as you spot any damage to your roof, you should repair it. Repairing your roof fast protects it and your home from the elements. Roofs have an average lifespan. The underlying structure should last as long as the structure of the house. Depending on the materials, you should also replace the entire top layer of your roof.

Asphalt Shingles

Three-tab asphalt shingles will last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. But if you have architectural asphalt shingles, the average lifespan can be longer — 25 to 30 years, since they’re more resilient.

Cement or Clay

Cement is one of the most durable types of roofs. Cement or clay tiles are resilient and heavy. They’re installed on extra-strong roofing reinforcement, so your home has greater protection. Clay tile roofs can last from 50 up to 100 years.

Slate

Slate is another excellent, if not superior, material for roofs. Slate is the most fire-resistant material for roofs and one of the most aesthetically pleasing. In addition, slate can last for 125 to 200 years.

Wood Shingles

Wood shingles require maintenance to get the most out of them. If you don’t keep the roof clear of leaves and decay, you can shorten the lifespan. On average, wooden shingles will last around 25 to 30 years. However, with the proper care, it may be around 50 years until your roof needs repairing.

Metal

How often you need to repair a metal roof depends on the type of metal. Aluminum and steel will have to be replaced every 50 years or so. Metals such as zinc and copper will last approximately double that time.

Repairing a roof: The bottom line

Repairing a roof is not something anyone can do. Climbing up ladders and working on a sloping roof can be dangerous. And you can’t afford to make mistakes. So it is usually advisable to call in a licensed roofer to make any roof repairs.

If severe storms and flooding have damaged your roof in Richardson, SERVPRO professional Flood Remediation and Storm Damage contractors can help. Give us a call at (972) 690-1414 for a free estimate.