How Often Should You Replace Your Roof in Calgary AB?

he number-one question in the minds of many Calgary AB homeowners is “how often should you replace your roof?”

True enough, there are many factors affecting the lifespan of your roof. One of them is the material itself. Asphalt shingles can last longer than asphalt rolled roofs but no more beyond the age clay tiles can reach.

However, is this the only factor affecting the lifespan of roofs? Indeed, it isn’t the only thing you should worry about.

In this short guide, we’ll answer how the following affects the lifespan of your roof:

  • Local Weather
  • Roof Pitch
  • Sunlight Exposure
  • Ventilation and Insulation
  • Installation Procedure
  • Maintenance
  • Material Age

Factors That Affect Roof Lifespan and Quality

Weather in Calgary AB

How often should you replace your roof? It depends on your local weather

Calgary AB homeowners face a humid continental climate. Therefore, their properties face some of the harshest rainstorms and snowstorms. Alternatively, they face the hottest summers too.

Due to these factors, their roofs face corrosive or erosive elements. For example, frequent rainstorms in an area will wash off sediments from sloped asphalt shingle roofs. In fact, it will remove the laminate over wood shakes and shingles over time causing the material to dampen and rot.

Even concrete tiles and flat slab roofs are no exception. If moisture enters concrete, then the material softens over time due to consistent exposure. Therefore, an area with frequent rain or snowfall will affect the lifespan of your roof.

a high-slope shingle roof with multiple dormer windows

High slope roofs guarantee zero ponding. However, they’re prone to windstorm damage.

Roof Pitch

How often should you replace your roof? It depends on your roof pitch.

It might seem cosmetic, but the pitch of your roof plays a role in its lifespan. The higher the slope of your roof, the better it dispels water and prevents ponding.

Flat slab concrete roofs and single-ply membranes with low slopes are prone to ponding. The ponded water will permeate the material and cause internal leaks in consequence.

However, a high slope roof can put homeowners at a disadvantage. If the property encounters a windy storm frequently, the roof joists and support structures will collapse because the wind causes the roof to lift.

Luckily, Alberta residents need not worry about frequent strong-winded storms.

Exposure to Sunlight

How often should you replace your roof? It heavily depends on how much heat it encounters daily.

Alberta’s humid continental climate delivers the hottest summers. Therefore, continuous heat exposure can bake and accelerate the degradation of Calgary AB roofing materials.

Even if your roof material can reflect UV radiation, some of it gets absorbed into the material itself. In this light, a continuous heat wave can ultimately reduce the lifespan and durability of your roof.

Fortunately, the local sunlight is quite forgiving allowing homeowners to focus on improving roof life against rainstorms and snowstorms.

Ventilation and Insulation

How often should you replace your roof? If you have bad ventilation and insulation, you might need to do so more often.

Attic ventilation plays a key role in improving roof material lifespan. Insulation saves you from high utility costs especially during winter.

However, with poor ventilation, the heat accumulates in the attic. In consequence, the roofing material above encounters both extreme heat and cold temperatures accelerating its degradation.

Therefore, having excellent ventilation and insulation plays a huge role in extending the lifespan and durability of your roof. If you have the warmest temperature in your attic when you turn on the heater, you might consider replacing your roof if it has been this way for some time.

Installation Procedure

How often should you replace your roof? Did you have a licensed roof contractor install it for you?

You must always use a reputable roofing contractor to build your residential roof. In fact, hire one the roofing material manufacturer licensed and trained to install their roofing materials and designs.

In doing so, you prevent possible premature roof failures. A high-quality roof material has no chance of survival with poor workmanship.

For example, if an outstanding aluminum metal roof has lacking fasteners in several areas of your roof, then a windy storm will blow it out from your property easily. An experienced aluminum roof installation contractor will have done a better job and extend the lifespan of your roof without any trouble at all.

contractors working on a roof with underlayment

Always make sure to call a reliable roofing contractor to replace your roof.

Regular Maintenance Schedules

How often should you replace your roof? If you do not have it maintained regularly, then you must replace it as soon as possible.

Even if manufacturers advertise their roofing systems to require almost no maintenance, it is possible that your roof has encountered invisible damages. Therefore, a regular check-up allows roofing contractors to identify the cause of damages and mend it before the problem balloons into worse situations.

In addition, regular maintenance allows you to continue your manufacturer’s warranty and stay within the stipulations of your roof insurance contract if you have them. Most warranties and insurance will not trigger due to homeowner negligence.

Clay tiles have some of the longest roofing material lifespans in the market today.

Materials

The roofing materials themselves age and become brittle over time. However, all of them will get past their first decade without much damage.

Examples of long-lasting roofing material are metal roofs, clay tiles, and slate tiles. While they might cost quite a lot initially, most homeowners will enjoy them for 50-70 years and even more with effective regular maintenance.

On the other hand, economic options such as asphalt shingles, modified bitumen, and single-ply membranes (TPO, PVC, and EPDM), will give most homes 25-40 years with regular roofing maintenance.

Here is a list of all estimated lifespans of residential roofing materials:

  • Asphalt Shingles: 25-30 years
  • Wood Shakes and Shingles: 25-30 years
  • Modified Bitumen: 30-40 years
  • Built-Up Roofing: 30-45 years
  • Asphalt Rolled Roofing: 15-20 years
  • Clay Tiles: 50-70 years
  • Slate Tiles: 50-70 years
  • Concrete Tiles: 40-60 years
  • Concrete Slab Flat Roofs: 50-70 years
  • Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO): 25-30 years
  • Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): 25-30 years
  • Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM): 25-30 years
  • Metal Roofs: 50-70 years

Wrapping Up

How often should you replace your roof? If you believe you’ve been negligent in some areas, have encountered weather or material-related problems, or have a really old roof, then it’s time for you to proceed with replacements.

Alternatively, if you have a young roof and give it regular maintenance despite encountering a severe hailstorm, then contractor-rendered repairs and restoration should do the trick.

By knowing all the factors that affect your roof lifespan, you can make the right decision when it comes to replacing your roof.

When it comes down to it, you’ll want to work with a reliable and results-proven roofing contractor in Calgary AB. If so, you can contact No Payne Roofing for your roof replacement needs today!

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