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Life Cycle of a Roof
Breianna Dahl • Apr 01, 2021
Roofs are similar to the life cycle of a butterfly. I know the statement sounds ridiculous but hear me out. Butterflies have four distinct phases of life, egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Similarly, roofs could be said to have four phases, installation, new roof, maintenance, and restoration. Let’s dive deeper.
Installation
The life cycle of a roof starts similarly to the egg phase of a butterfly. The road to roof installation can take a while. Installation includes everything from the initial inspection, to roof tear off, to the roof getting put on the building. This phase sets your roof up for the success of the next three phases. If the installation goes poorly, then the next three stages will happen quickly, but if the installation is great then the next three stages will last a long time. In some cases, it can take months, or even years – in extreme cases – for a roof to get through the installation phase. This can happen due to weather, demand, and finances. Once installation is complete the roof enters the new roof stage.
New Roof
The new roof stage lasts, at most, 5 years. In reality, the new roof stage lasts a year and after that, you should move to the maintenance stage. This stage is similar to the honeymoon phase in a relationship. Little work has to be done to maintain the current state of the roof. In comparison to a butterfly, the new roof stage is similar to the larva stage. The caterpillar has little to worry about besides gaining life experience. Much like the larva, your roof can be exposed to dangers during this time, but the good news for your roof is that it should weather through the dangers with little to no damage. After 5 years it is time to move onto the next phase of your roof – maintenance.
Maintenance
In some butterflies, the pupa or chrysalis stage is the longest stage of their life. With your roof, the maintenance stage can last on average up to 20 or even 25 years. The maintenance stage should not be ignored as it is the best chance you have to extend the life of your roof. The maintenance stage looks different for every roof. To decide on the best plan of action for your roof discuss your roof with a trusted roofing contractor. At the end of the maintenance stage, the roof has a short amount of time to the left where it stays in the restoration phase.
Restoration
The restoration phase is the last stage a roof is in before the cycle begins again. The window for restoration is different for every roof but is expected to last two to four years. During the restoration phase, a roof is in a precarious place. If a roof is restored during the restoration time frame it allows for a roof to be extended to its fullest extent. If a roof is not restored during this phase it is on the fast track, back to the installation phase.
Maybe I haven’t convinced you that like a butterfly, your roof has distinct phases. Regardless of the phases, there are things that your roof needs to survive its time on your building. Proper care of your roof can make sure you don’t have an inconvenient roof leak showing up the day you’re supposed to leave for vacation. Don’t ignore your roof any longer, get your roof inspected and come up with a maintenance plan. Its’ life depends on you.
About the Author:
Breianna Dahl is a recent college graduate and the Marketing Manager for Roof Medics. She has been around the roofing industry her whole life as her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all roofers. Besides writing a blog Breianna handles all of Roof Medics social media accounts, and recently became a licensed drone operator. Breianna lives in Wisconsin with her husband.
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