Roof is that part of a house that acts as a boundary between the interior of the house and the outer environment keeping all parts of the house enclosed and protected. Therefore, with the occurrence of any natural phenomenon, it is bound to get the most affected.
It is a well-known fact that roofs ( most of them) are not meant to last forever and are inevitable to environmental changes. Even if the best and most expensive roofing material available in the market is purchased, it will not last forever. Tear and withering is part of a roof’s natural occurrence.
However, equipping oneself with enough knowledge about the factors that contribute to the shortening of the lifespan of a roof, measures can be taken beforehand to ensure the prolonged life of a roof and maintain it in a good shape.
What are the factors involved in the failure of any roof?
Numerous factors are involved that ultimately cause damage to the roof. Some factors are in your power to control whereas a few of them can’t be controlled. Here are 10 factors that are to be kept in mind when installing a roof or after you have successfully installed it:
- Type of material used
This factor is vital in determining the average life of any roof. Different roofing materials that All Seasons Roofing uses have different durability and life span and you can select the one that would go well with the area you are residing in. let’s enlist some roofing materials with their expected lifespan:
- Asphalt shingles: 30 years
- Metal roofs: 100 years
- Slate, concrete, and tile roofs: 50 years
- Wood roofs: short life of 20 years
- Improper installation
As an amateur, if you take the matter of installing the roof in your hands just for the sake of saving some bucks, it might not be a wise decision. This is because no matter how high quality and expensive your roof is, if it is installed badly, it can result in premature failure. Therefore, you must hand over the matter to a professional roofer to prevent any damage.
- Slope or pitch of the roof
The slope or pitch of a roof helps identify the direction of water or snow falling on the roof. To know whether a roof requires a steep slope or low slope is primarily dependent on that particular place where the roof is to be installed. The requirement for the steepness of the pitch varies from place to place. For example, steep slopes are favored in areas with excessive rainfall as they last much longer than low sloped roofs. Steep sloped roofs prevent the water from standing on the roof.
- Color of the roof
Using darker colors for a roof can result in maximum absorption of heat while using lighter colors can prevent this from happening. In addition to this, there is also an increase in energy consumption and costs. A dark-colored roof does not have a direct effect on the lifespan of a roof but can make the roof wear out over time.
- Sun exposure
Sun exposure without a doubt makes any roofing material fade with time. Sunlight can also result in the production of cracks on a roof. There is a solution to it, select materials that can withstand UV rays and reflect them. Furthermore, Coatings can also be applied to a roof already present which would minimize the heat absorption. Sunrays can degrade the roofing material and for this purpose cool roofs can prove a better option as they reflect all the incoming rays.
- Harsh weather conditions
Well, a roof is a barrier that keeps the internal environment of a building isolated from the external environment. Therefore, it is subjected to change with the occurrence of natural disasters such as strong winds, storms, hail, etc. Although it is not in your power to control nature, however, you can choose a roofing system that can bear extreme weather conditions thus keeping the roof intact and slowing its aging.
- Good ventilation mechanism
Think of it this way, if a house cannot function without a ventilation system, how can a roof work without it? Poor ventilation can cause the weakening of the shingles such as that in asphalt shingles. The reason for this is that poor ventilation traps heat and moisture which harms the shingles. Installing a proper ventilation mechanism preferably in the attic of a house would allow the trapped heat and moisture to escape and thus keeps the roof strong.
- Good insulation
Insulation is required in the regulation of the internal temperature of a house. Both poor ventilation and insulation cause hindrance in this regulatory action. By insulating every part, a cut-down can be noticed in power expenses in addition to the extension in the age of a roof.
- Maintenance
Your responsibility does not come to an end by simply installing a good roof. Instead, you should look out for leaks, cracks, missing or broken shingles after a natural disaster has happened. Negligence can make you face long-term damages and the probability of roof replacement is multiplied.
If you cannot maintain a roof then go for a material that requires minimal or no maintenance.
10. Age of the roof
Lastly, you should be aware that no matter how much care you provide your roof with, it comes with an ultimatum and eventually will be replaced by another material. You cannot prevent any roof from aging or pause its aging process. However, the above-mentioned measures can ensure an increase in its lifespan if applied.
Conclusion:
The factors mentioned before pretty much sums up the cause behind the wear and tear of any roof. By keeping an eye on all these things, any roof can be retained in a good condition for a longer period. To conclude, these factors also give an idea of when to change a roof entirely with a new one.