Living in Texas, it’s clear that our weather can be a little unpredictable. We can have a blazing 100 degree summer day one minute and it suddenly becomes a cozy 70 degree afternoon. The common joke in Texas is “if you don’t like the weather… just wait five minutes.” The Dallas/Fort Worth region is no different and may be the worst. In 2011 alone the Dallas/Fort Worth experienced a great deal of hail storms, heavy rain, tornadoes and even wild fires. In fact, the DFW is widely known as “hail alley.” It is the one weather pattern that meteorologists can know for sure this region will get plenty of every year.
How long will my roof last?
When dealing with your roof in this area it is important to consider these weather conditions. One major question we hear asked a lot is, “How long will my roof last?” The average shingle roof usually lasts around 10-25 years. However, that is not including the lifespan decrease with all of the random weather damage. The most common type of shingle used in Fort Worth and Dallas would be the composition shingles. Even so, the areas weather still takes a major toll on your roof. In 2011 there were more than 300,000 roofs that needed repair or replacement. That’s over 300 million dollars worth of roof damage. When talking about the weather damaging your roof it is important to know which kind of weather to look out for.
Roofs are the first line of defense and they definitely pay the price!
As we all know, Texas heat can get pretty hot pretty fast. This state including the Dallas/Fort Worth region has been known for setting record high temperatures. This heat can play a huge role in the lifespan of your roof. This is because the heat can burn your shingles up. Heat has been known to literally burn your shingles and turn them to ashes. With the summers in the DFW area being pretty rainless, you have nothing to relieve the heat constantly cooking your roof. Another issue you have to worry about is during the rainy season. Lightning and floods have been known to ruin your roofs completely. Too much rain also causes your roof to wear down and eventually tear and flood. Obviously hail damage here in “hail alley” begins to get redundant. We get massive hail storms year after year and our roofs get battered storm after storm. This leads to widespread damage in this metroplex.
Solutions
Now before you start thinking about leaving the DFW Area to save on roof repairs consider this: DFW is also known as the regions’ highest concentration of impact resistant roofing. It is basically a different type of shingle compared to different areas. The impact resistant asphalt shingles not only take longer to become indented from hail, but also have a longer lifespan when put to the test against heat and rain. Surveys have compared the after effects of a hail storm on roofs with regular composition shingles to those with impact resistant asphalt shingles and the results were very encouraging. All of the houses with the impact resistant shingles were completely intact. On the other hand, some of the regular shingle roofs needed a complete roof replacement. Other options to solidify your roof for the long haul are metal roofs which can last for decades as well as tile roofs which last for decades and look incredible on any house.
Living in an area where the weather is unpredictable can be tough. The DFW area is no exception, but there is always a silver lining to any situation. These new impact resistant asphalt shingles have been said to have a lifespan of 25-35 years! That’s ten more years than the other regular versions. Depending on the time of the year and the type of roof material you have, your roof could last decades in this DFW area. If you don’t remember the last time you had a professional roof inspection, call Old Pro Roofing at 817-929-ROOF(7663). We will be at your house within 24 hours to get you a free roof inspection and also will stay with you to talk to your insurance adjustor to ensure fair treatment. We will then replace your roof in a speedy and professional manner. Have a wonderful day everyone!