How Long Asphalt Shingles Should Last

We may as well ask how long is a piece of string, because location, type of materials and installation all have a bearing on asphalt shingle life. The lifespan could be anything between 15 and 30 years. We unpick the important aspects, but leave you to answer how long asphalt shingles could last on your roof

The Design Determines How Long Asphalt Shingles Should Last

There are two main types of asphalt shingles in regular use in Calgary. Three-tab asphalt shingles are flat and relatively thin. However, they are also cheaper and install faster. If you are happy with a fifteen-to-twenty-year lifespan they could be your preferred solution.

However if you knew how much longer quality architectural asphalt could last, you might be interested to know more about these thicker, three-dimensional shingles. They could take Calgary’s weather for twenty-four to thirty years. These replacement jobs may cost you 25% more, but your home will benefit from a more traditionally-style chunkier appearance,

Other Factors Affecting a Particular Shingle-Roof’s Lifespan

If you don’t keep your asphalt shingle roof clean, then accumulating debris and moss can cause premature aging. A high level of exposure to direct sunlight can also weaken the shingle structure, especially if the tint is dark and absorbs more heat.

A steeply pitched roof is better than a ranch-style one because the debris can blow off, and the light strikes at a sharper angle when the sun is high up in the sky.

Wide temperature swings between summer and winter can add to your woes because of excessive expansion and contraction. Don’t be entranced by promises of a ‘lifetime roof’. Unless you are already well out of your teens!

What’s Happening Inside Your Roof Counts Too

If your home lacks adequate ventilation inside the roof, then the plywood underlay beneath the shingles can develop mold in the stagnant air. During summer the heat traps too. The glue holding the laminated sheets together may eventually fail.

There’s not much you can do with aging shingles from a sagging roof besides sending them for recycling into asphalt pavements. The true answer to the question how long asphalt shingles should last on your roof depends on four factors. These include the quality of materials, the installer, the weather, and you in terms of maintenance.

Get Free Advice Now from Valiant Exteriors Ltd.

We are the small, family-owned business with a big heart. We offer free advice and quotations for repairing and replacing asphalt shingles, eavestrough systems and sidings of all kinds too.

You can message us right here, or call (403)829-1661 whenever it suits. We are locals, we live in Calgary the place we call home.

More Information

The Important Parts of Your Shingle Roof

Shedding Granules on Asphalt Shingles

Preview Image: Neglected Asphalt Shingles: Chris Waits by CC 2.0