Ask Chris - When Should I Replace My "30-Year" Roof?

Q. My house was built in the late 90s and it has a "30 Year" asphalt shingle roof. We've had some blow-off problems, but we won't have to replace it anytime soon, right?

A. Actually, we've just re-roofed a number of homes that were built in that period - all with "30 Year" roofs. No matter what the name implies, the real lifespan for most asphalt composition roofing is about 10 or 15 years, so you're probably approaching the end of the service life of your roof, and those blow-off problems are certainly evidence of that. If you're planning on staying in your home, you're going to be facing a re-roofing decision soon and certainly before those 30 years are up! You can avoid a similar problem in the future by upgrading to a quality metal roof. Not only will it offer superior resistance to high winds - no more shingles littering the lawn - but it also means you won't be re-roofing in another few years. Our metal roofing materials come in an array of styles and colors, so it's certainly worth your time to investigate.

For a more thorough discussion of advertised and actual service lives of a variety of roofing materials, get your copy of our homeowner's guide to re-roofing, available for download on our website.

Ask Chris - Why Are Metal Roofs So Uncommon?

Q. When I look around at the roofs in my area, I don't see very many made of metal. Why is that?

A. Many roofs are chosen not for their long-term performance, but for their price and convenience. If you're considering replacing your roof and value things like long-term performance, beauty, eco-friendliness and durability, particularly if you're planning on staying in your home, the normal roof replacement choices (i.e. asphalt composition, concrete tile) may not be at the top of your list after a bit of investigation. I highly encourage you to learn about the features and benefits of quality metal roofing and remember to ask lots of questions about any material you're considering. After all, even a cheap roof costs thousands of dollars.

Oh, and once you start learning more about metal roofing, I bet you'll be surprised to discover that many of the beautiful roofs in your area actually are metal!

Fantastic article discussing homeowners going green with their roof choice. Here's an excerpt:

"The metal roofing industry's product are already environmentally friendly as most metal roofs contain more than 25 percent recycled content. This level of recycled content allows metal roofing to be included on listings of 'green' and recycled content products. In addition, metal roofing is 100 percent recyclable. Traditional roofing products, such as asphalt, contribute 13 billion pounds of waste to U.S. landfills annually. Many metal roofs can be installed over an existing roof, without tear-off and disposal."

That's right, folks. It says 13 BILLION pounds of waste result directly from traditional, violently unfriendly roofing material. Makes you think!

Read more here.