Asphalt roofs are a popular roofing material since they are durable and come with more affordable shingle options. They are long-lasting and resilient, with a service life of 20-25 years, on average.
Long-term exposure to the environment has an effect on shingles, and it is referred to as “weathering.” Although weathering causes shingles to deteriorate over time, weathered shingles aren’t usually considered damaged. Weathering is a natural degradation process that occurs in shingles over time, and several factors can affect how rapidly they deteriorate.
Shingles begin to age and deteriorate as soon as they are packaged. The deterioration process starts slowly and is mainly driven by oxidation and the chemical reactions inside the asphalt. Sometimes, heat and pressure can also have an impact on the shingles. It all depends on storage and transit conditions.
Once the shingles are installed and exposed to the environment, the rate of deterioration increases. Rapid aging will continue for a while until the asphalt layer becomes tougher and has completely cured.
During this phase, the extra granules attached to the shingles during the manufacturing process will detach from the shingles and get washed away by runoff. That said, don’t worry when this happens because minor granule loss is normal. It’s also worth noting that during residential roofing installation, handling and foot traffic on your roof can knock a small number of granules off your new shingles.
Several other factors can influence the rate at which your shingles age. These include shingle quality, roof orientation and slope, among other things.
As years pass and your shingles inch closer to the end of their life span, they’ll start to show signs of wear and tear, such as brittleness, granule loss and splitting. Make sure your trusted roofer inspects your roofing regularly so that they can spot these signs and help you figure out when to carry out roof replacement.
Deschutes Roofing is a local company that offers top-notch workmanship and customer service. Our expertise includes asphalt, metal and other specialty roof installations.
For inquiries, call us at any of these numbers: (541) 241-5720 (Bend), (503) 967-9590 (Portland), (541) 246-6860 (Eugene), (503) 468-7663 (Lake Oswego) or (503) 928-8750 (Beaverton). You can also fill out our contact form to request an estimate.
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