Sometimes it is hard to tell how much life is left in your roof and when it is a safe timeframe to have your roof redone. It is normal to want to get the maximum shingle-life as possible but you also don`t want to push the limits and end up with costly leaks and repairs either. Shingles will age differently depending on the location of the house, its exposure to damaging sun rays, ice build-up and other weather elements that affect the life of the shingles. Even if your roof looks fine, you may want to get an inspection done every 5 years. A qualified roofer can examine the roof more closely and identify things such as cracked caulking or exposed nails, which could lead to leaks long before the shingles are due.

An inspection can also be beneficial as some recommendations can be made that will prolong the life of your shingles. For example, installing proper attic ventilation and redirecting some of the water from a second storey downspout can help prolong the life of your shingles. Please note that you should only hire qualified roofers to remove snow from rooftops to ensure that the removal is done with care for the underlying shingles. We get several calls every spring for leaks directly caused by damaged metal or shingles from improper snow removal techniques.

Most people are surprised by the rapid deterioration of their shingles in the later part of its life. Oftentimes, the shingles will be curling only slightly in the spring and by the time winter comes along, the shingles look like they have aged 10 years. This is due to the fact that the protective granules which make the colour of the shingles, have been dislodged from the base of the shingle and the sun is basically burning the asphalt underneath.

For more information, please read the following document:

http://www.certainteed.com/resources/LifeCycle.pdf