Question 4: Why Didn’t My Shingles Last 30 Years Like The Roofer Said?
There’s a common misconception that I hear from homeowners all the time about how long they perceive that their shingles should have lasted. Usually the question goes something like this; “Why didn’t my shingles last 30 years? That’s what my roofer told me.” Or, “I know I don’t need a new roof because I have a 30 year shingle and it’s only (fill-in-the-blank) years old.”
There are two basic misconceptions regarding the 30-year, 40-year, or 50-year designations that the shingle manufacturers apply to their products. The first is that these numbers represent how long the shingle will last, when in fact what these numbers really mean is that is how long of a warranty against product defect that the manufacturer is providing. It carries no implication of how long the shingle will last.
The 2nd misconception is usually a misunderstanding on the part of the homeowner. During the sales presentation, the roofing salesman may have mentioned that the shingles have a 30, 40, or 50 year warranty without explaining what that means. The homeowner hears that and translates that in his mind to the thought that the shingles will last 30, 40, or 50 years. It also could be that the salesman didn’t understand what the warranty covers and mistakenly told the homeowner that his shingles will last that long. If he said that, he was wrong.
Hopefully that clears up any misconceptions you or others may have about the 30, 40, or 50 year numbers on your roofing shingles. If you have questions, however, please call our office.