We, at Frisco home insurance, enjoy providing helpful tips for our customers! For many folks, their home is their most important investment. It provides protection for their family, and of course, it’s always nice to come back to a safe, well-kept home.
Your home benefits from an attractive and sturdy roof. Your roof can definitely accentuate “curb appeal” and property value. But, more importantly, it can protect many things within your home. Some examples are:
- Items stored in your attic.
- The insulation in your attic.
- The interior walls of your home.
- Falling debris or tree limbs during a storm.
- Your HVAC (heating and cooling systems).
Now that we’ve underscored the importance of your roof’s integrity, two questions remain:
- How often do you need to replace your roof?
- What materials are used for shingles and what are the differences?
The first question depends on the materials used, which we will look at shortly. Frisco home insurance advises that you inspect your roof once a year or once every other year. You may want to perform this task earlier than usual if you’ve had a severe storm and suspect that there’s an issue.
Let’s look at some different shingle materials:
Wooden Shingles
Wooden shingles are often made of cedar because this wood is durable and has a unique beauty. Wood shingles are resistant to strong winds and add warmth and charm to any home. There are some negatives, however. One point is that wooden shingles are susceptible to trapping moisture. So, as usual, there are trade-offs. This type of roof lasts anywhere from 20 to 25 years before needing replacement. California redwood, cypress and pine are also used for wooden shingles, but this is less common.
Composition Shingles
These shingles are often fiberglass or different polymers that are constructed in multiple layers. They’re less durable than some other options in this list, and thus, these roofs may need to be replaced in 12 to 20 years. These shingles are inexpensive and they are eco-friendly. They have a reduced weight and are able to insulate your home nicely.
Asphalt Shingles
This type of shingle is the most popular choice for homes across America. Asphalt shingles have a lot of versatility coming in many shapes, forms and colors. They’re cost-effective and have good energy efficiency. They also have fairly high durability and are fire-resistant. These are all compelling reasons to make this choice for your roof. If you maintain this type of roof and have regular inspections, it could last for 20 to 30 years. One final advantage: These shingles are fairly easy to replace as needed.
Metal Roofs
Metal roofs are highly durable and safe. They have the highest longevity of any material used for roofing on this list, lasting between 50 and 75 years. You won’t likely see a metal roof in your neighborhood as it is more often used for industrial buildings. A metal roof can greatly reduce cooling costs as they reflect a lot of sunlight.
However, metal roofs can be two to three times more expensive than other materials. They are also quite noisy in the event of frequent rain or hailstorms. We suggest checking on the integrity of a metal roof twice a year.
Rubber Roofs
This is another roof you probably won’t see in most residential neighborhoods as they’re more often used for commercial and industrial buildings. This type of roof will last 30 to 50 years before you need to replace it. One of the main problems with rubber roofs is the shrinkage. This can be exacerbated over time and long exposure to sunlight that affects the seams. Leakage issues can be common.
It’s always important to hire a good contractor with impeccable references but it can be particularly important with a rubber roof where installation may be tricky.
How Long Will My Roof Last?
The above list of materials should help you make a general assessment of when you’ll need to consider replacing your roof. In the meantime, we at Frisco home insurance, suggest yearly inspections of your roof. After all, you want dependable protection for your family and for your investment.
We also suggest you take a stroll around your home and look for any signs of roof damage – especially if you’ve recently experienced a severe storm. Sometimes, the need for roof repair is visible to the naked eye. Here’s hoping your roof lasts a long time and that your home is protected by the best insurance possible!