The roof is the part of the house that gets the most exposure to extreme elements such as UV rays, hail, snow, and rain water. Although roofs are designed to withstand constant exposure to such elements, years of exposure will eventually take their toll on the roofing material. After living for a decade or two under the same roof, homeowners will eventually have to call a roofing Houston specialist to do the replacement.

Factors Affecting Roof Durability

Type of Material - One of the factors that affect the durability of a roof is the type of material from which the roof is constructed. Some roofing materials such as slate, metal and clay have very long life spans and can last up to 50 years or more, while wood shakes and asphalt have a life span of 20-30 years. If the home has synthetic roofing such as PVC or synthetic rubber, it may face replacement relatively sooner since this material only lasts 10 to15 years.

Climate Condition - Another factor that would affect the life span of a roof is the climate. In most cases, roof manufacturers test their products and come up with the life expectancy under normal climate conditions, however, extreme weather conditions such as drastic temperature changes from warm to cold and constant exposure to UV rays can speed up the roof's deterioration faster than expected. If a homeowner lives in areas with such climate conditions, they should expect to replace the roof sooner than expected.

A roof may already require major repairs or replacement by a roofing Houston contractor when the roof is having the following problems:

• Missing Shingles – A loose or missing shingle or roof tile is a sign of roof damage. Without shingles, water can easily seep through and damage the underlying roof structure. Shingles, like ones made from asphalt, also tend to curl as they age, making them even less effective. When such problems are present, the homeowners should be urged to replace the roof.
• Sagging – Normally, the roof's slope and ridges are well aligned; however, if a homeowner observes the roof sagging, that is a clear indicator of long-term damage to the underlying structure. The wooden structure supporting the roof may have already begun deteriorating causing the entire roofing structure to sag. The eventual consequence of ignoring this problem is the collapse of the roof!
• Interior Water Damage – If a homeowner has noticed water stains on ceilings or any surrounding wood, this is an indication that the roof is allowing water to leak into the home. If not repaired, the leak could increase in size, causing damage not only to the roofing structure but to the ceiling and walls as well.
• Inefficient Heating or Cooling – If a homeowner notices an increase in their energy bill, the culprit could be the roof. The roof is equipped with insulation to keep the temperature inside neutral. Insulation can become wet from moisture coming from inside the home or from water leaking through the roof. When this happens, the insulation becomes ineffective and it will make a difference in the energy bill.

Obvious signs of roof damage such as multiple roof leaks or falling roof shingles would get the attention of most homeowners to seek roof repair or total roof replacement. It would be much smarter not wait for such serious damage to occur before calling in a roofing Houston specialist. A roof may look fine to the untrained eye even when it is past its life expectancy. It is more likely that it is beginning to deteriorate in ways that cannot readily be seen except to a professional roofing Houston specialist. Don't wait for the roof to fall apart before deciding it is time for a new roof – get professional roof inspections yearly and save that roof!