Do Roofing Shingles Expire

Shingles are rectangular, overlapping roof coverings found on rooftops. They are installed as the outermost protective layer atop roofing felt.

Roofing shingles have a lengthy lifespan. Typically, its lifespan is between 15 and 20 years. Therefore, the answer to the question "Do asphalt shingles expire?" is affirmative. They are expiring. The good news is that they will endure a long time if you take adequate care of them.

shingles for roofing

Roofing shingles do degrade, but the pace of degradation is critical. Some may age prematurely, but they are simple to replace. In some years, extreme weather conditions might accelerate the deterioration of shingles. Numerous factors influence the performance of roofing shingles.

Shingles In Inventory

Whenever we replace our roof, we always buy shingles in quantity. Consequently, typically a few shingles remain. Instead of discarding the excess shingles, it is prudent to store them. Because the leftover shingles perfectly match the ones on your roof. Therefore, if any of them fail, you will have replacement shingles.

But you must preserve them carefully if you want them to last. Roofing shingles typically consist of asphalt. It may become rigid if this is held for longer than a year.

However, if the proper measures are followed, this can likely be prevented for several years. You would want to retain them in their original packaging because they are arranged in a way that prevents them from attaching.

If you remove them from the bundle and store them stacked on top of one another, they may adhere to one another and create an asphalt block over time. They would be irretrievable without damage.

Try to store them in a dry, cold location. Humidity and heat are two of the greatest enemies of shingles.

Instead of storing them in a garage, try storing them in your home. If you properly keep your shingles, they may last for many years.

There Are Shingles On The Roof

Now comes the roofing shingle. Since they are the ones doing all the work, they are the ones who require the most attention.

They are exposed to a variety of climatic conditions and natural stressors. You may need to regularly prune your trees, so they do not grow over your roof and add more weight to it. Or you may desire it, so they do not fly over the roof when the wind blows. This will cause the shingles to lose weight and granules unnecessarily.

Heat and humidity can wreak havoc on shingles. Therefore, if one side of your roof is exposed to the sun for most of the day, you should use thicker shingles on that side and thinner shingles on the shaded sides. Thus, your roof will age evenly.

During your roof installation, you should keep in mind that if the shingles are subpar, you should discard them and purchase new, superior ones. Because if you use inferior shingles, they may not survive more than a few years. Eventually, you will have to spend more money.

How Can You Determine Whether Or Not Your Shingles Are Worn?

Roofing shingles are typically composed of asphalt. If the corners of your shingles are inverted or if there are missing shingles, you should contact your roofing contractors to schedule an inspection.

If shingles do not return to their proper position after a strong wind or if heavy debris is visible on your shingles, you should be cautious.

If your shingles are moist after several days of rain, likely, the felt is not draining water properly, and you should inspect it.

Conclusion

Are roofing shingles perishable? Similar to everything else, shingles have an expiration date. The only difference is that you determine the date. If you take care of them properly, they will endure a very long. And if you fail to do so, they will age prematurely.

This article should have provided you with sufficient knowledge about the subject. We suggest contacting a local roofing contractor or experienced home insurance attorney if you have any questions.