Shingles are made in different weights. The heavier the weight of the shingle, the longer it will last. The life expectancy of the shingles will be determined by the many factors that will all have a bearing on how long they will last.
How well the attic is ventilated will make a difference to the shingles life expectancy, the hotter the attic is the shorter the life of the shingle. The color of the shingle, light colors do not get as hot as black.
The prevailing wind, most houses have a roof that has shingles that are worn out on the side that gets the most weather, shingles on the sheltered side get less wear. The life expectancy of shingles is affected by both the pitch (slope) of the roof and the weather.
Hot summers and harsh winters will reduce the life of the shingle. Roofing manufacturers label and sell their shingles as twenty, twenty-five, or thirty-year shingles. This is the length of time the shingle would be expected to last in a perfect climate.
- Twenty year shingles do not usually last much longer than about fifteen years and may show signs of deterioration between ten and twelve years.
- Twenty-five year shingles have a useful life of about eighteen to twenty years.
- Thirty-year shingles have about a twenty-five year life expectancy.
Inspect the roof regularly, when it begins to look a little rough it’s probably time for a re-roof. If its too high to get on, use a pair of binoculars.
