Are you aware of the type of roof your home has? How much longer will it last? Typically, people don't give a second thought to their roof unless something out of the ordinary occurs; water is leaking through the ceiling, or shingles are missing, blown off by the wind. Here are a few of the most popular types of roofing materials:
Asphalt shingles, which are attractively priced, and do not require much expertise to install. It's fire resistant, easy to repair, and come in many colours and styles, with varying life span options and prices. The usual life expectancy is 20 years.
Wood shingles or shakes: This material is also very popular due to the aesthetic appearance and life expectancy. A woof roof will last up to 25 years when they are maintained properly and installed correctly. This is rated Class C for fire rating, and some has no rating. Check your local building codes. If your roof is treated with a fire-resistant substance, your rating could be raised to Class A.
Tiles made of clay or concrete are highly popular as there are many styles available, a variety of colours, and they are fireproof so that makes them a safe option. It's easy to maintain and very durable, with a life expectancy of 30 years. Extra framing may be required with these tiles, as they add extra weight to the roof.
Tar and gravel roofs work best when the roof has a low slope to it. Tar paper and asphalt are layered on the roof, applied using a molten asphalt system. The layers are laminated and then covered with gravel to hold them down and protect against UV degradation. 20 years is the usual lifespan for a roof of this kind.
Metal: This material is very popular in areas with high snowfalls. The risk of the roof collapsing from snow weight is low since these roofs tend to shed snow. When properly installed and maintained, metal roofs will last 30 years or more. There are other advantages to metal roofs, as they are actually light compared to most roofing materials, and they do well in place with harsh weather patterns.
Roof maintenance is important
No matter which material your roof is made of, inspecting it annually can add many years to your roof's longevity. Check for cracks, curled edges and missing or worn granulars on asphalt shingles. Hire someone who is qualified to remove snow from your roof if you have heavy snowfall in the winter months. Your home will benefit from snow removal, by keeping leaks from occurring. Be sure that during other seasons and fall especially, you clear debris from your home's eavestroughs. Taking these easy steps yearly will benefit you greatly in the future, as your roof will have increased longevity.
Check your home insurance
Your home insurance is there to cover you in an emergency. Covered by these policies are things like damage from ice and snow weight, falling objects or hail damage. Wear and tear is an example of losses that wouldn't be covered by your policy. If your roof is not properly maintained, or it is of considerable age, your insurance may only cover part of the damages, and may not cover any damage at all. Depending on the policy, there are different payments for damages, and you could receive depreciated value or actual cash value of the roof, and some policies replace or repair the entire roof.
Asphalt shingles, which are attractively priced, and do not require much expertise to install. It's fire resistant, easy to repair, and come in many colours and styles, with varying life span options and prices. The usual life expectancy is 20 years.
Wood shingles or shakes: This material is also very popular due to the aesthetic appearance and life expectancy. A woof roof will last up to 25 years when they are maintained properly and installed correctly. This is rated Class C for fire rating, and some has no rating. Check your local building codes. If your roof is treated with a fire-resistant substance, your rating could be raised to Class A.
Tiles made of clay or concrete are highly popular as there are many styles available, a variety of colours, and they are fireproof so that makes them a safe option. It's easy to maintain and very durable, with a life expectancy of 30 years. Extra framing may be required with these tiles, as they add extra weight to the roof.
Tar and gravel roofs work best when the roof has a low slope to it. Tar paper and asphalt are layered on the roof, applied using a molten asphalt system. The layers are laminated and then covered with gravel to hold them down and protect against UV degradation. 20 years is the usual lifespan for a roof of this kind.
Metal: This material is very popular in areas with high snowfalls. The risk of the roof collapsing from snow weight is low since these roofs tend to shed snow. When properly installed and maintained, metal roofs will last 30 years or more. There are other advantages to metal roofs, as they are actually light compared to most roofing materials, and they do well in place with harsh weather patterns.
Roof maintenance is important
No matter which material your roof is made of, inspecting it annually can add many years to your roof's longevity. Check for cracks, curled edges and missing or worn granulars on asphalt shingles. Hire someone who is qualified to remove snow from your roof if you have heavy snowfall in the winter months. Your home will benefit from snow removal, by keeping leaks from occurring. Be sure that during other seasons and fall especially, you clear debris from your home's eavestroughs. Taking these easy steps yearly will benefit you greatly in the future, as your roof will have increased longevity.
Check your home insurance
Your home insurance is there to cover you in an emergency. Covered by these policies are things like damage from ice and snow weight, falling objects or hail damage. Wear and tear is an example of losses that wouldn't be covered by your policy. If your roof is not properly maintained, or it is of considerable age, your insurance may only cover part of the damages, and may not cover any damage at all. Depending on the policy, there are different payments for damages, and you could receive depreciated value or actual cash value of the roof, and some policies replace or repair the entire roof.
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For further details, please visit renter insurance, or if you're a first time home buyer visit www.squareoneinsurance.ca.
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