Why You Need a Roof Replacement Earlier Than Your Neighbor

Next-door neighbors with roofs installed simultaneously often find themselves confused when one needs a replacement before the other. The truth is there is no riddle to the situation. Many factors attack your roof independently from that of your neighbor.

Let's talk about what impacts the lifespan of your roof.

Why Might Identical Roofs Have Different Lifespans?
Here are 11 contributions to having an earlier roof replacement than your neighbor:

1. The location of your trees. Trees have the potential to protect or harm your roof. If you have them in the right spot, they can:

• Block wind damage to your shingles.
• Provide UV ray protection.
• Moderate warm temperatures.

On the other hand, if your trees stand too close to your house, they may:

• Fall on your roof.
• Drop branches on your roof.
• Scrape your shingles.
• Drop leaves and needles, which absorb moisture and encourage mold and algae growth.
• Dropping nuts and fruit, dealing damage over time.
• Provide excessive shade, another contribution to mold and algae growth.
• Provides a bridge for animals and insects.

 
2. The amount of residents in your home. The more people living in one house, the warmer it is, and the higher the cooling costs. Humans create a lot of condensation within an enclosed space. Each person adds moisture to your residence by:

• Boiling a kettle
• Cooking
• Using the washing machine and dishwasher
• Drying clothes
• Bathing and showering
• Breathing. The average person exhales about 400g of vapor a day.

Excess moisture leads to mold and mildew.

3. The design. Asphalt shingles aren't as durable as other materials like metal. Furthermore, the slope could encourage pooling, and if the roof is dark, it can absorb heat and degrade faster.
 
4. Negligence of ongoing maintenance. If you aren't performing ongoing maintenance, you may miss warning signs before damage occurs.
 
5. The size of your house. According to eia.gov, “Space heating and air conditioning account for a much smaller share of household energy use in apartments than in detached single-family homes.”
 
6. Quality of installation. If a roofer installed your roof poorly, you may experience leaks and failures earlier than usual.
 
7. Constant repair. It is more expensive to constantly repair your roof than to get one replacement.
 
8. Curling or cracked shingles. These are signs of brittle shingles that will break down and can blow away.
 
9. Moss or algae growth. Moss and algae absorb water. The moisture degrades shingles and invites mold.
 
10. Bald spots. Without granules, your shingles can't protect your roof effectively.
 
11. Missing shingles. Your roof WILL leak without shingles.
Your roof is vulnerable to elements of your lifestyle and factors you can't control, so roofs don't always last as long as their twin.

Whether you'd like to start with a roof inspection, get repairs, or a replacement, call Town Corners Roofing and Exteriors at 616-772-9700 or fill out our contact form for a FREE estimate. We service West Michigan.

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