How long does an asphalt shingle roof last?
We tell homeowners that a properly installed asphalt shingle roof lasts 25 to 40 years. That is a fifteen year spread, and most of it comes down to how the roof was put on and what the attic under it is doing.
What shortens the life of a roof in Ohio?
Heat held in the attic. A hot attic dries shingles out from underneath. The sealant strips let go first, then the shingles turn brittle and shed the granules that shield the asphalt from the sun. Ohio sets a minimum for attic ventilation, and how attic ventilation works covers the numbers.
Ice at the eaves. Ohio winters build ice along the bottom edge of a roof, and water backs up behind it. That is why Ohio requires an ice barrier from the roof edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line.
Details that wear out before the shingles do. The rubber boot around a plumbing vent cracks from years of sun, well before the shingles around it are due. A leak at a pipe or a chimney means one detail failed. It does not mean the roof is finished.
Storms. Wind and hail can end a roof early at any age. Hail big enough to do it is not common around Dayton, but it happens. Small, pea size hail does not really damage shingles. What storm damage looks like is worth knowing before you call your insurance company.
What are the signs you need a new roof?
Three things to watch for.
- Granules collecting in the gutters or at the bottom of the downspouts
- Shingles that lift or crease in the wind because the seals have let go
- Shingles that have gone brittle and shed granules where they bend
Any one of these is a reason to have the roof looked at. A single sign does not mean the roof has to be replaced.
How we build a roof to last
Every roof we replace is a full tear-off down to the deck. We walk the deck, photograph it clean, and replace any soft or rotted decking. Ice and water shield goes on in two rows at the eaves, one row in every valley, along every roof-to-wall transition and around everything that comes through the roof. Two layers of synthetic underlayment go over the whole deck, overlapped 24 inches.
On top of that goes a complete Owens Corning Duration system: Owens Corning starter strip, Duration shingles, and Owens Corning hip and ridge caps, installed to the manufacturer's specifications. The layers of a roof explains what each one is there to do. Our roof replacements carry the Lifetime Workmanship Warranty.
How often should a roof be inspected?
Every five years, and any time you notice something out of place. A free roof inspection takes about 30 minutes for most homes. We start on the ground, go up on the roof, photograph every finding and explain it in plain words.