When we talk about home maintenance, the integral part of it would be roofing. Without good roofing, the entire house can have signs of damage, for example, leakage.
Roofing is essentially the primary part of the house that you must maintain to protect the entire house. However, we overlook some factors over the years, which causes the lifespan of the roofing to shorten.
Even roofing professionals assess or ask for the factors that may have damaged the roof. After knowing the factors, they will be able to fix or install roofing that is resistant to that factor. Read on to know the five factors that affect a roof’s lifespan in Florida.
What Can Affect Your Roof’s Lifespan In Florida?
As mentioned before, the roofing and the factors that affect its lifespan are essential to determine.
The assessment helps you and the roofing professional to install roofing that safeguards the house. This will provide your roof with resistance to the factors that may be affecting its lifespan. Below are the five factors that affect a roof’s lifespan in Florida.
Material
Essentially, the material of the roofing determines its durability. When considering roofing, there are many options for materials available.
Asphalt Shingles
In the USA, asphalt shingles are very commonly used for roofs. The reason behind this is they are available at economical prices and come with several benefits.
Asphalt shingle can live up to 30 years. However, the roof can last up to 50 years with proper maintenance. While asphalt shingles may not be the most durable material available in the market, they are popular for their affordability.
Metal And Tile Roofs
The other options for durable materials are metal and tile roofs. However, professionals believe that the most long-lasting options for choosing the material are slate, concrete, and tile roofs.
Experts suggest that this combination of materials can last for up to 50 years. Moreover, if proper care and maintenance are given, the roof can last over 100 years.
What To Choose
One material that you should try to avoid is wood. Wood can last only up to 20 years and requires extensive care and maintenance.
On the other hand, metal roofs are considered durable and low maintenance. They are also highly energy efficient.
Therefore, if the material of your roof is of low quality, the lifespan will be decreased. In order to add some more years, you can maintain the roofing with regular servicing and cleaning.
Similarly, if the quality of your roof is optimum, the roof will last longer. In any case, maintenance is crucial.
Exposure
The exposure that your roof gets is also a factor that can affect the lifespan of your roof.
Weather condition
A sturdy roof protects against harsh weather conditions. However, harsh weather conditions can also put a lot of pressure on the roof. As a result, the lifespan of the roof gets reduced.
Therefore, when installing or replacing a roof, you must consider the local weather conditions and choose the materials accordingly. Heavy rainfall, extreme heat, and hailstorms are signs that the roof can get damaged if not chosen appropriately.
One cannot control weather conditions. Hence, an alternative is choosing a company with extensive roofing knowledge. They can find a solution to the harsh weather conditions.
Sun Exposure
Sun exposure can be harsh on the roof. Considering the extreme heat, the roof’s wear and tear increases.
In addition, if your roof is painted in a dark color, that can affect its lifespan. The reason being that the dark colors absorb more heat, and the chances of damage further increase.
The UV rays of the sun are another factor that can degrade the roof. In this situation, similar to weather conditions, one cannot control exposure to the sun. Hence, the roofing that you choose should be according to the exposure your roof receives.
Slope
If your roof has a slope, it doesn’t accumulate things that fall or fly on it. The slope can have a gentle slide. Hence, rainwater or snow, or anything that falls, slides off without accumulating on the roof. The slopes also add to the aesthetic value of the house.
Professionals determine the slope or the angle of the roof by calculating the number of inches it elevates vertically for every 12 inches it extends horizontally.
A slope will have a 6-in-12 pitch when the roof expands 6 inches for every 12 inches. Experts determine the right angle of the roof by assessing the weather conditions and the slope that supports the house, withstanding the weather.
Not just the weather conditions but also the building codes can dictate the angle of the roof.
Insulation And Ventilation
Ventilation is especially necessary for the roof. Poor ventilation weakens the shingles and can be a major factor that can affect the roof’s lifespan.
Ventilation is necessary as it provides the required escape for the trapped heat and moisture accumulating in the attic. If ventilation is not provided, then the trapped heat and moisture can cause internal damage to the roof.
The lack of ventilation can also hamper maintaining the temperature of the house. The attic can be warmer all the time, which is why the house’s temperature would remain low.
Insulating the house can also be helpful. No insulation combined with poor ventilation can be a nightmare for regulating the house’s temperatures.
Insulating can be beneficial as it can also reduce energy bills.
Maintenance And Usage
As mentioned before, maintenance is the primary factor that is considered to increase the lifespan of your roof. Therefore, you should schedule a timely maintenance service to repair any crack, leakage, or damage to the roof.
The damage should be addressed immediately and on priority. Prompt action fixes the damage quickly. At the same time, the severity of the damage is controlled.
Sometimes, the damage to the roof can go unnoticed. In such cases, to avoid severity, you should conduct a planned inspection. You can check your roof’s condition quarterly or as recommended by the roofing professional you seek.
You can also book a maintenance service with a roofing company. They will look after the roof and ensure that the lifespan increases. Consulting an expert is always a good idea.
The usage of the roof is also important. If there are heavy items on it, the pressure increases, and if it is not sturdy enough, it may cause damage.
Therefore, heavy items such as a solar panel or water tanker should be checked with a professional. You must ensure beforehand that they can be placed on the roof.
Endnotes
You now know the five primary factors that can affect your roof’s lifespan. It is also important to understand that after some years, your roofing would require a replacement.
Whether you install a roof with the best quality materials or conduct a regular maintenance service, the roofing will eventually wear out. As a result, all the roofing, at some point, requires a replacement.
You can certainly determine the factors that may shorten the lifespan of your roof. Accordingly, you may carry out the maintenance and repairs. However, after some years, the roof cannot be repaired any further and would require you to replace it.
