| Dealing with Your Roof When It Gets Old | | Print | |
| Written by Tom Burrell | ||||||
| Friday, 15 August 2008 | ||||||
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Most homeowners are surprised to learn that major elements of their home are not designed to last as long as the rest of the home. One example is the roof over your head. Some roofs will last 80 years while some will only hold out for 15.
Most homeowners are surprised to learn that major elements of their home are not designed to last as long as the rest of the home. One example is the roof over your head. Some roofs will last 80 years while some will only hold out for 15. When considering the number of years different roofs might last, it is vital to keep in mind that while materials and other issues certainly play a role, the biggest issue is the impact of the power of nature. Think about it. The average roof takes a beating. 365 days a year it just sits and bakes in the sun. It expands as it heats up during the day and then contracts as it cools off at night. It gets pummeled by rain, wind and flying objects. Heck, it is pretty amazing it lasts as long as it does. That being said, the primary material used in your roof system can make a world of difference. The most durable is the slate roof. Slate is a beautiful form of rock. Build a roof out of this and it can last up to 100 years. It is costly, however. The current economic situation is pretty bad, so a lot of people are watching their wallet. The cheapest roof replacement you can go with is a wood shingle roof. Beware, however, that while it is cheap up front, it will cost you in the end since it might only last 10 to 15 years. Whenever you use wood on a house, there is always the fire concern. One needs only watch the fires in Southern California to watch wood shingle roofs go up in flames one after the other. This is even true for fire retardant wood shingles. A happy middle point between the cost of slate and the fire risk of wood roofs is the tile roof. It is highly fire resistant and will not cost you an arm and leg to install. Most tile roofs will also last up to 45 years, which is a nice lifespan. One really interesting new type of roofing you might want to check out is solar shingle roofing. These roofs come in rolls that are spread out in vertical columns down your roof. They are layered so that they look like flat shingles overlapping from top to bottom. The concept of the solar shingle is revolutionary. It turns your entire roof into an electricity generator. You can heat and cool your home using the power. You can run appliances, leave lights on and so on. All for just the cost of the initial system. Having a roof over your head is important, but only if it actually keeps the elements out. If yours is failing, take a look at the different roofing systems available. They can change the entire look of your home and even provide power. Article Author: Tom Burrell is with 866FixMyRoof.com - a Riverside County Roofer providing roof repair and replacement services.
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 21 August 2010 ) | ||||||
