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Your Guide to How Often to Replace Your Roof

As a roofing company, we often hear the question “How often does the roof need to be replaced?” This is a great question! Your roof is your main protector, covering your home and your loved ones inside of it. So it’s always good to know when your roof is healthy and when it’s served its purpose for your home. 

Knowing how often to replace your roof can give you insight into its current quality and allow time for you to budget for a roof replacement. Let’s get started in answering your questions, including “How often do you need a new roof?”

How Often Do You Need a New Roof? 

There are many factors to consider when evaluating when to replace a roof, including:

• Type of roofing material
• Location
• Weather conditions
• Price
• Damage
• Current age
• Maintenance 

Suppose you have not had any damage and proper maintenance has been applied to your roof. That leaves two main factors remaining: the type of roofing material and the average lifespan of that material. 

Here at Wilson Brothers Roofing, we offer a wide selection of roofing products that we have thoroughly researched and trust. Take a look at our roof product options here!

Now let’s consider how long will a roof last on average.

Asphalt Shingles

A popular option for residential roofs, asphalt shingles are one of the simplest shingles to replace. Coming in three categories, asphalt shingles can last between 15-25 years. Their lifespan is less than other roof types on this list, but replacements happen more rapidly than they do with the following roofing options. 

Slate Shingles

Slate shingles are very easy to maintain and are durable due to their thickness. Slate shingles can last more than 50 years with proper maintenance. In fact, slate shingles are known as one of the most durable, long-lasting roofing materials. 

Clay Tiles

Clay tiles are great for Bakersfield and Kern County’s dry heat. These thick, heavy, and durable tiles can last from 50 to 70 years. This extremely heavy-duty material needs to be installed and replaced with precision by professional roofers.

Wood Shakes

The rustic style of wood shakes is sustainable and durable in inclimate weather. Most wood shakes are made with fire-resistant material. Their life span is between 20-40 years, depending on the other factors mentioned above. Proper maintenance affects every roof, but wood shakes are particularly vulnerable to rotting and plant growth. The better your wood roof is maintained, the longer it will last. 

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is nothing new, but it is becoming increasingly more popular on modern homes that balance design and durability. Metal roofs are energy efficient and sustainable and can last between 40-70 years. 

Installing and replacing metal roofs is complex, so make sure that your metal roof installation is done by a professional roofing company like Wilson Brothers Roofing so it is done to a high standard. 

Other Factors to Consider When Asking How Often Does Roof Need to Be Replaced

Asking the question “How long will a roof last?” is not as simple as knowing the average lifespan of your chosen material. Material and average lifespan are, as we’ve discussed, two very important factors in determining when your roof will need to be replaced. However, there are other elements at play, which is true whether you are looking at residential or commercial roofs.

Maintenance 

Maintaining your roof can lengthen its lifespan. Paying for small maintenance and repairs right when they happen can even prevent a premature roof replacement! 

It’s important to keep up with your roof’s health to prevent damage. If damage has occured, contact the roofing professionals here at Wilson Brothers Roofing so we can perform an inspection of your roof. 

Weather Conditions

Weather plays a huge role in the condition of your roof. Weather can lead to a lot of wear and tear. After all, that’s what roofs are for: to protect you against the elements. However, strong weather conditions can cause damage and shorten your roof’s lifespan.

Price

Price is always a factor when you’re considering replacing your roof. Investing in a roof replacement can be overwhelming. That’s why Wilson Brothers Roofing offers roofing financing. We want to ensure that you feel safe and secure under your roof; we will work with you on finding the best roof replacement option for your budget! 

Damage 

There could be completely obvious damage that occurs and thus forces you into needing a roof replacement. There are three main damage scenarios in which this may happen.

• Roof tears and breaks due to unforeseen circumstances: Weather conditions is a previously mentioned factor, but there are extreme cases to consider. Bakersfield is subject to earthquakes. Although there hasn’t been an extreme one in some time, damage can still occur. If your roof has collapsed because of extreme weather or natural disasters, you will need to have it replaced. These are devastating occurrences that force a roof replacement to be necessary for safety reasons. 
• Improper roofing material installation: It’s so important to get your roof installed properly by roofing professionals like those here at Wilson Brothers Roofing. If a roof is installed incorrectly, it can fail and/or be prone to more damage. 
• Improper accessory installation: Making sure your roofing accessories and other important materials, such as flashing and vents, are properly installed is a key component to extending your roof’s lifespan. Without proper installation, major damage can occur and force what, under different circumstances, could have been an unnecessary roof replacement. 

We’ll talk a bit more about damage done to your roof in the next section, where we discuss repair versus replacement. 

When to Replace a Roof or When to Repair It?

Sometimes when damage has occurred, you don’t necessarily need a total roof replacement. Instead, a repair may be better for your budget and time. 

Let’s take a look at some of the signs that your roof may need a repair. If a warning sign of a necessary repair is ignored for too long, it could result in a total roof replacement. 

Many times, damage that you can see means that there is more damage beneath the surface. That’s why maintaining a healthy roof and keeping up with inspections are important; catch the damage before it becomes too big.

Some signs of damage that require a repair are:

• Broken gutters
• Interior paint deterioration or stains
• Mold growth on your tiles
• Flashing leaks

All of these are signs that a  repair is likely needed. But again, if the damage goes unattended for too long, the need for a roof replacement could be a possibility. 

Signs and Symptoms for a New Roof

It’s important to have a professional inspect your roof. We will work with you to weigh the options of whether a replacement or a repair is necessary. There are some signs that you can check yourself to know when to call the experienced roofers at Wilson Brothers Roofing. 

Check Your Attic

Your attic is the gateway to evaluating your roof’s health. Any dampness, light, wind, stains, puddles, or anything abnormal is a sure sign that your roof is in poor condition. Because of its proximity to the roof, your attic is one of the first parts of your home that will be altered if your roof has damages. Check your attic and find out if your roof needs repairs or a replacement.

Stop the Sag

Every once in a while, take a good look at your roof from street view or from a ladder to check if your roof is still angled correctly. Any dips and sags in your roof are a sure sign that you need a roof replacement.

Keep Your Garden on the Ground

Fungus, mold, lichen, and moss are never good plants to have on your roof (unless it’s a green roof, of course). The plants themselves are a problem, but it’s what’s beneath that needs to be addressed. 

Growth on your roof usually means that moisture is trapped under your roofing materials, primarily asphalt tiles. You can remove the plants, but make sure the cause of the plant growth is also taken care of. 

FAQs on How Often to Replace Roof 

How Often Do You Need to Reshingle Your Roof?

When considering how often should roof shingles be replaced, it’s important to consider the repair vs. replace question. Shingles are fairly easy to replace if done correctly by a professional. That’s what makes asphalt shingles so great—if they go missing because of a windstorm or another factor, they can be replaced.

However, if they were installed incorrectly or if there is moisture trapped underneath, it would be better to have an inspection to ensure that your roof is durable and intact. It all depends on the reason the shingles are coming off. 

If your shingled roof has been properly maintained, it can simply be age that calls for a replacement. Check and see when the last time your asphalt roof was replaced to give you a good idea about whether it’s time for a re-roofing checkup. 

How Long Should a New Roof Last Without Leaking?

This is a question we get a lot that has one answer: your roof shouldn’t leak at any point. If your roof starts to leak, call the professional roofers at Wilson Brothers Roofing right away. We can come inspect your roof and determine the cause of the leak. 

Wilson Brothers Roofing

Have more questions about your roof? We’re here to help. We’re a professional roofing business with a small business mentality and large business capabilities! And our customers are our number one priority. 

We want to make sure you feel safe and secure under a roof that fits your home’s design. Call us at (661) 589-4297 or fill out an online form today!