The Average Roof Life of American Roofs

American roofs are no different from roofs from other countries, but they have a different average roof life count because of how diverse America’s states are.

Each state got different roof life expectancy with different kinds of roofs, but if we discuss all types of roofs and then analyzing how long said types of roofs would last in every state in the USA, we would be wasting a lot of time.

Read also: How Long Does a Shingle Roof Last

However, what we are going to do today is to talk about the common lifespan of roofs, the types of roofs, and how those roof types will fare in Florida, one of the most popular states in America. Without further ado, let us begin talking about it, shall we?

The Four Roof Types and Their Lifespan

Before we can get to bullying Florida, we have to talk about the roof types and how long they are expected to live. For that, we would like to start from the bottom (in terms of life expectancy), which is modified bitumen roofing.

Bitumen roof is – to put it simply – modified asphalt. It is one of the long-lasting roofs available, though it will only last for about 10 years if untreated and 16 if treated. They are durable and produce fewer cracks when compared to other asphalt-based roofing.

They have been tested against a strong current, fire, water, and other damaging stuff, and they often came out on top. Mostly used flat, so if you ask about the flat roof life expectancy, most of them usually last as long as modified bitumen.

Bitumen roofing
Bitumen roofing

The third longest roof is a roof made out of a 3-tab asphalt shingles roof, which lasts about 15 to 18 years. It is very cheap and effortless to install, making it very popular amongst the American crowd. It is waterproof, so there is never a worry about leaking, but its durability is questionable.

Asphalt shingles roof

After that, we got the metal roof, able to last up to 30-45 years. Metal is strong, durable, and it would not break even when you introduce nature to it. It is less than pleasing to the eye, though, making it less than popular among the crowd.

Read also: Disadvantages of metal roofs.

Last but not least, tile roofs. Tile roofs last the longest, able to take in 30 to 50 years if treated right. They are made out of clay, so they are proven strong and can withstand a lot of pressure.

How long roof last in Florida

And talk about how those roof types would fare in the salty air of Florida. All roof types save for the tile roof we mentioned before would not bode well in Florida. Take, for example, the 3-tab asphalt shingles, which can last up to 15 to 18 years.

In Florida, that kind of roof would only last for about 10 to 12 years. The average life of shingle roofs in Florida is definitely lower than in other states.

how long does a roof last in florida
How long does a roof last in Florida

However, it is a surprise that the average life span drops not too far from the standard lifespan. This means that the salty air has little impact on the average lifespan of all roof types. Surprising.

Conclusion Average Roof Life

We might not be able to give you a more detailed analysis of each roof type’s performance when they are used in Florida, but in reality, we say only the truth. I hope this article can tell you a lot more about the average roof life of each roof type and how each roof type would fare in Florida, fellows.

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RoofLast is an experienced author and roofing expert. With years of practical experience in the field authored several informative articles on various aspects of roofing, including installation, maintenance, and repair