Your asphalt shingle roof was or will be an expensive investment. So, just like every other investment, you want to maximize the return.
For your asphalt shingle roof investment, this return is its lifespan. Unfortunately, I’ve seen too many roofs fail to reach their maximum lifespan in the 30-plus years I’ve been in the roofing industry.
I don’t want this happening to you or your investment. That’s why you need to know how to maximize your asphalt shingle roof before and after installation.
At Bill Ragan Roofing Company, we provide unbiased roofing information to help homeowners get the most out of their roof investment. But there’s only so much we can do without doing the work ourselves, so let’s give you the knowledge to do it on your own.
This article covers the following 5 ways to maximize your asphalt shingle roof’s lifespan:
- Invest in quality asphalt shingles and roof system components
- Hire a great roofing contractor to install your asphalt shingle roof
- Make sure your attic has the right amount of ventilation
- Maintain your asphalt shingle roof
- Keep trees trimmed back from the roof
1. Invest in quality asphalt shingles and roof system components
The first way to maximize your asphalt shingle roof’s lifespan is to simply invest in quality. An asphalt shingle roof isn’t cheap, so I understand most homeowners are concerned about pricing.
However, it’s crucial to invest in quality asphalt shingles and a full roof system instead of getting the cheapest roof possible. This ensures you not only get the most life out of your roof but also the best warranties.
By getting a full asphalt shingle roof system from a specific manufacturer, you’ll qualify for a 50-year non-prorated enhanced warranty. Now, you’ll still get a warranty on the materials if you get a mix-and-match roof.
But no matter what, you need to invest in quality products to avoid costly problems. In fact, getting the cheapest roof possible almost always means spending more money in the long run.
2. Hire a great roofing contractor to install your asphalt shingle roof
The next (and most important) way to maximize your asphalt shingle roof’s lifespan is by hiring a reputable, local roofing contractor. Hiring a reputable roofing company ensures your asphalt shingle roof will last as long as the materials hold up.
However, a roof never has a chance of reaching its full lifespan if you hire a contractor that doesn’t use correct roofing techniques. This could be due to poor workmanship, inadequate attic ventilation, improper nailing, or poor weather conditions during installation.
(Improperly installed asphalt shingle roof)
No matter the cause, this all leads to repairs throughout your asphalt shingle roof’s life before it prematurely fails altogether. Now, you should have a workmanship warranty to fix potential installation problems at no cost to you.
Unfortunately, there’s a good chance they won’t stand behind their work, or they’ll give you a short warranty if they installed your roof incorrectly. I see this happen way too often in the roofing industry, so you need to do your due diligence to find a high-quality local roofing contractor.
3. Make sure your attic has the right amount of ventilation
Your attic’s ventilation system has a huge impact on your roof’s lifespan. Because of this, your attic needs the right amount of ventilation to ensure your asphalt shingle roof’s life is maximized.
Checking for proper ventilation should be one of the first things a roofing contractor looks at during a roof inspection. But if your asphalt shingle roof is installed without proper attic ventilation, I guarantee you’ll be paying for a new roof way sooner than expected.
It even voids any manufacturer’s warranty on your roofing materials, leaving you only with your contractor’s workmanship warranty to fall back on. If that’s not enough, improper attic ventilation also means higher energy bills during the warmer months.
4. Maintain your asphalt shingle roof
The next way to maximize your asphalt shingle roof is to simply have it maintained. Just like your car needs an oil change, your roof needs maintenance to keep it functioning at a high level.
Whether it’s once or twice a year, this is the best way to get the most life out of your asphalt shingle roof after installation. It catches any future leaks before water finds its way into your home.
It prevents these small problems from snowballing into an expensive repair when the damage gets bad enough. Roof maintenance is also the perfect chance to clear your roof of debris in problem areas like valleys.
Leaving wet debris to sit on asphalt shingles damages them and shortens their lifespan. Even if it’s just once a year, maintaining your asphalt shingle roof is crucial to maximizing it.
5. Keep trees trimmed back from the roof
The last way to maximize your asphalt shingle roof is to trim any close or overhanging trees. Obviously, a tree or tree limbs hitting your asphalt shingle roof damages them and can cause serious structural damage if large enough.
However, trees cause more damage than you think. The first thing you have to worry about with tree limbs over an asphalt shingle roof is bird droppings.
The high acidity of bird droppings actually eats away at asphalt shingles and other tar-based components, shortening your roof’s lifespan. On top of bird droppings, overhanging tree limbs can erode the asphalt shingles’ protective top layer by allowing water to drip continuously after every rainstorm.
This also allows fallen leaves, sticks, and other debris to hinder water drainage down your roof, eventually leading to leaks. The stuff coming off tree limbs is a problem, but so are limbs touching the roof.
Over time, the continued rubbing between the limb and asphalt shingles damages them beyond repair. Now, I’m not saying you have to remove the tree, even though that’s the easiest way.
The best way to avoid this is to simply keep your tree branches trimmed back as much as possible.
How long should your new asphalt roof last?
Now you know the 5 ways to maximize your asphalt shingle roof’s lifespan. By following this advice, you can count on your asphalt shingle roof to give you peace of mind for years to come.
But how many years of peace of mind should you actually get after installation? This is a commonly asked question, and, honestly, it’s one of the more important questions.
That’s why I wrote another article breaking down how long an asphalt shingle roof lasts.
Check out How Long You Can Expect Your Asphalt Roof to Last to learn how long your roof is supposed to last.
