Although it is easy for Durham roofers to work out how old a roof is, the average person might struggle to figure this out. It is especially difficult for people to figure out how old their roof is from ground level but you should not go onto your roof unless you have had proper training on how to safely mount it.
Luckily, there are a few ways you can determine the age of your home’s roof without getting a ladder out. To find out what these are, keep reading.
Knowing your roof’s age can be useful as it will help you to figure out whether your roof is due a replacement before it’s too late.
The age of your home
The first piece of detective work you can undertake to figure out your roof’s age is finding out how old your home itself is.
If your home was built in the last 20 years, it is highly likely your home still has its original roof.
Meanwhile, if your home is older than this, it may take more time to find out whether your home has its original roof, and therefore how old it is.
There is a lot of debate over what the standard lifespan of a roof is. This is because there is such a wide range of roofing materials and all of these have different typical lifespans.
According to Roofing Superstore, a felt roof might last for 10-30 years. Meanwhile, a more durable roofing material like natural slate might last for approximately 50-100 years; maybe even for as long as 150 years if it is well maintained enough!
It is also worth noting that people may replace their roof sooner than expected if their home is involved in a freak event that causes significant damage like a major storm. Some homeowners may also replace their roof if they simply want to change the aesthetic of their home and they have the funds.
If you have not been able to work out the age of your roof based on this information, there are more places you can look.
Follow the paper trail
When you moved into your home, it is likely you inherited all sorts of paperwork from the property developer or previous owners.
These documents contain lots of useful information about your home. There is a chance that the age of your roof could be one of these pieces of information. So, which specific document(s) do you need to look for?
HomeOwners Alliance suggests that one piece of essential paperwork buyers will get given when purchasing their new home is any building work guarantees for the property. These guarantees are usually valid for 10 years and are issued when work such as a roof replacement is completed.
If you have one of these then you will be able to see when your roof was first built or was last replaced, allowing you to learn how old your roof is.
Ask a professional
As you might have discovered, it is possible to find out the age of your home’s roof yourself. However, there are times where you might not be able to. If you are determined to find out the age of your roof but you have exhausted the above avenues, there is one more option: bringing in the professionals.
An experienced professional roofer is arguably the most qualified person to reveal the age of your roof. This is because they should have a good understanding of the range of past and present roofing materials and techniques. They will therefore be in a unique position where they can use their powers of roofing deduction to suggest roughly how old your roof is.
Expert roofers working in their local area will also be aware of the expected levels of wear and tear a roof will see over a specific period of time. This is another factor which they can use to help them discover the age of a roof.
Leave a Reply