1. Proper attic ventilation
Your attic’s ventilation system is what allows your home and roof to breathe properly. If your attic isn’t properly ventilated, then the damage from the trapped hot and cold air will drastically shorten your asphalt roof’s life.
That’s why adequate attic ventilation is one of the biggest factors that impact the life of your composition roof. Without proper ventilation, the trapped heat will literally burn up your roof system, leading to a full roof replacement.
And because it wasn’t properly ventilated, any warranties you have from the manufacturer on your roofing materials will be voided.
2. Hiring a reputable roofing contractor to install your composition roof
Just like proper ventilation, hiring a reputable roofing contractor to install your roof plays one of the biggest roles in the lifespan. When your roof is installed properly, you’ll get as close to the lifespan of your roofing materials as possible.
That’s why you need to find a roofing contractor that has a strong installation history. If you hire one that doesn’t use correct roofing techniques, your roof’s life will be cut short, and you’ll need a roof replacement well before it’s time.
No matter if you need repairs or a full roof replacement, your contractor plays a huge role in every aspect of a composition roof.
3. The weather conditions your composition roof is exposed to
Every roof goes through wear and tear due to weather throughout its life. While climate and temperature play a role, it’s really about the amount of extreme weather events your area gets.
The more extreme weather that hits your composition roof, the faster the shingles will go through wear and tear. For example, if you live in an area that gets a lot of small hail, then your shingles will have granular loss a lot quicker.
You won’t be able to file an insurance claim, but it’ll definitely shorten your composition roof’s life. On the other hand, if you have a heavy hail storm, a tornado, or strong straight-line winds that damage your roof, you’ll be able to get the problem taken care of through your insurance company.
4. Maintaining your composition roof
Every roof needs maintenance to keep it running smoothly. This makes getting annual roof maintenance one of the most important factors to ensure you get the most life out of your composition roof.
When you have annual roof maintenance, common roof problems are caught before they can cause too much damage. It’s also a way to keep debris off the roof, out of the valleys, and off the gutter line.
Without maintenance, debris sitting on your composition roof will stay wet. This makes your shingles saturated, and they won’t be able to perform their main function, keeping you dry.
If you have a composition roof, it’s important to have it maintained at least once a year.
