When a homeowner makes a selection of a roofing material, they should, consider the roofing material’s lifespan because this determines the overall lifespan of the roof, and that impacts long term cost.

Roofing style, materials, and the climate in the area where the home is located are amongst the factor that affect a roof’s lifespan. Selecting roofing products with nearly the same lifespans will avoid piece by piece repairs over a ten to fifteen year period. In most cases, roofing materials last for about twenty years. That is if the roof has been maintained properly and there has been no significant weather damage. Some materials have a lifespan of up to 50 years while some others last as little as 10 years. Here are some of the common roofing materials and their lifespans.

A properly maintained asphalt roof will last between 15 and 20 years. Because of the low cost of the materials and the ease of repairs asphalt roofing materials are one of the most common types of roofing materials used throughout the nation.

Fiberglass roofing lasts between 15 and 20 years. Little maintenance is required for fiberglass roofs, and they come in many different styles and colors to match almost any desired look. Fiberglass roofs resist water and mold because they don’t have organic components.

Wooden shakes and shingles are common in the northeastern United States. These roofing materials will generally last between 15 and 20 years and can even last for as many as 30 years if the shakes and shingles are well maintained.

Slate roofing materials are some of the longest lasting roofing products on the market, with an average lifespan of 40 to 75 years.

Metal roofing lasts nearly 50 years. Metal roofing products come in a wide variety of different colors, finishes, and styles to resemble other types of roofing materials such as tiles or wooden shingles. These roofing products are nearly indestructible from weather and can be installed over the current roof.

A less well known option is rubber roofing. It’s easy to install, to maintain, and it lasts a long time. It can be a single sheet cut to fit the roof or shingles. The very first rubber roof ever installed was in Wisconsin in 1980. It’s still in service after nearly 30 years.

So you see, there are many different roofing materials each with their own strengths and weaknesses.