The general life expectancy of a roof varies, as with any home improvement project, but most high-quality roofing shingles can be expected to last for about 20 years before failing or otherwise needing to be replaced. Areas with high wind speeds, heavy rainfall, and extreme temperatures can expect that lifespan to be shorter. Keeping one box of spare shingles on hand is recommended in any of these events to be able to replace broken/damaged shingles with matching shingles.

Roofing over an existing roof is also called reroofing or an overlay. It is the process where roofers install a new roof over your existing one, i.e. add a new layer of shingles, which means that there is no tearing off of the old roof. Typically, this process is NOT recommended. However, there are specific circumstances in which this is an option. Reach out to your local ALRC team for questions regarding this option.

Leaks in your roof are inevitable and can lead to more danger than you might expect. They happen because water seeps down from the top of a home, causing rot which leads structural damage all along its foundation. Whether it’s age or weather conditions (or both!), these leaks will only get worse over time without repairs!

Any type of damage confined to a small space can usually be repaired and patched up, so there’s no need to invest in a new roof. But if the damage affects more than 30 percent of your roof, it is better to replace the whole roof.

When you inspect your roof annually or more frequently, it’s easier to catch any problems early and avoid costly repairs down the line. You should schedule an inspection in either late fall/early spring before rain begins accumulating on roofs again; this will ensure that there are no issues with leaks due recently finished installing gutters correctly last summer which could have contributed some water damage by now!