How Long Do Roof Shingles Last in Grand Rapids Michigan

Getting a new roof can be expensive. In fact, many home owners consider roofing replacement to be an expense that can cost thousands of dollars. Which depending on the size of your home and type of roofing shingles you have installed it can be expensive. So it leaves many home owners wondering just how long do roof shingles last in Grand Rapids Michigan? Although there isn’t a straight forward answer to this question because so many factors play into it you can determine the length of time your roof may last by looking at some of the factors that can make a shingle fail. 

How Long Do Roof Shingles Last in Grand Rapids Michigan

Getting roof shingles that last for decades can be achieved as there are shingles sold today with 50 year warranties. Typically the length of the warranty that is placed on the roof shingles is the useful life of the roof shingle. After the shingle has reached the end of it’s useful life it may start showing signs that the roof needs to be replaced. Older shingles that have started to curl will not protect the home as well as shingles that are newer.

Factors that Influence How Long a Roof Lasts in Grand Rapids Michigan

There are many factors that determine just how long a roof will last. For home owners in Grand Rapids Michigan, weather is always a factor. Snow and ice will attack the roofing surface in the winter while the UV rays during the summer constantly beat down on the roof. Other things that may play a role in how long do roof shingles last in Grand Rapids Michigan is listed below:

Shingles Used on the Roof

One of the most important factors that you’ll need to consider is the type and brand of roof shingles you have installed on your home. There are different qualities of roof shingles that you can choose from during a roof installation and some of the roof shingles are only designed to last about 15 years. Commonly the type of roofing that has a shorter lifespan is called three tab shingles. If your home has 3 tab shingles they typically last about 15 years.

The other type of roofing that typically has a warranty of 30 years is called architectural roof shingles. The appearance of architectural roof shingles is different than 3 tab shingles and you can determine which you have on your home simply by looking at the current shingles. If they look more like wood shakes then chances are you have architectural roof shingle more likely.

Under-layment and Flashing

The roof shingles on your home is just one piece of your roofing system. There are many other components that play a part in the entire roofing system. Two other factors that play a part in how long your roof will last is the under-layment used and the flashing used under the shingles. There are several different under-layment products which you can have installed. Unfortunately, most home owners will not have the information to determine what under-layment they have installed.

Roof Ventilation

A properly ventilated roof will last longer than a roof that is not properly ventilated. Chances are this won’t play a part on your home unless you’ve had additions on the home. The vents can get birds and other problems that can prevent the vents from working properly. This is one reason why roof inspections is so important.

How To Make Your Roof Last Longer

There are things you can do to make your home’s roof in Grand Rapids Michigan last longer. The first is getting regular roof inspections on your roof and repairing any potential problems on the roof. You’ll also need to make sure there is no debris that collects on the roof such as leaves and such. A great way to prevent this is to trim trees around your home that overhang the roof.

Get a Roof Inspection on Your Roof

As you can see the length of time your roof will last will be determined by many factors. So when you hear that a typical roof in Grand Rapids Michigan can last between 15 and 30 years you’ll be able to determine just how long your shingle roofing will last in Grand Rapids Michigan. You can take a shortcut and get a roof inspection on your home as well which will usually include the shape of the roof. Contact Grand Rapids Home Pros today to learn more and get a roof inspection on your home.