When you own a home, taking care of the roof is one of your top priorities. How are you supposed to keep your belongings and your family safe and dry without it? But to take care of asphalt shingle roofing, you need to understand what its life cycle looks like. Here’s a quick look at the life of an asphalt shingle roof.
Brand New
When your asphalt shingle roofing is first installed, it’s pretty much foolproof. Your new roof stage begins the minute the last shingle is nailed into place and typically lasts for about two years. Initially, this period of your roof’s life is one of rapid aging. It’s also known as the “curing” phase. As your roof adjusts to the harsh outdoor environment, there may be some granule loss, curling, and blistering as the weather conditions change. Fortunately, this is completely normal. While your asphalt shingles do begin aging as soon as they’re brought out of their packaging, sound roofing construction should ensure that they won’t deteriorate to the point of needing replacement. As long as your roof hasn’t sustained damage from leaks or falling debris, your shingles should be fine throughout this “curing” phase for the first two years or so.
Mid-Life
After the initial “curing” period, your roof enters an extended period of very slow aging. You may need a roof repair or two and maybe some shingle replacements during this time if there’s weather-related shingle damage, but overall this period in your roof’s life is one of minimal maintenance outside of an inspection or two every year. Most signs of aging during this period of 12 to 15 years include minor granule loss, some cracking, shingle curling, and other signs of normal weathering. Under most circumstances, these signs of aging won’t be enough to cause any concern. But if you find that you’re spending one-third or more of your energy budget annually on heat and air conditioning, it’s worth calling in roofing services for an inspection.
End of Life
Once your roof is about 15 years old, you’re entering a period of time where the aging process can speed back up again. After all, your roof has been protecting your home for multiple years at this point. You’ll start to notice more missing shingles, cracks, and blistering that isn’t going away. A storm might cause more significant problems than it did 10 years ago. And sooner or later, every roof needs to be replaced. The life of asphalt shingle roofing just so happens to be about 15 to 20 years. If your roof is more than 20 years old, it’s definitely time for a replacement.
Not sure what stage of life your roof is in? Concerned about shingle issues? Don’t hesitate to give our team at ROOFWORKS a call today.
