FAQs

Life expectancy differs from roof to roof. Some factors determining life expectancy include roof slope, type, weather, location (near the ocean, etc), and underlayment. In broad terms, a roof should typically last 25-30 years.

Knowing the dangers of roofing, we recommend you do minimal to no work on the roof. You can, however, clean easy to get to gutters. If you have concrete or clay tile especially, stepping on these can easily cause them to break. With composite shingles, we are a little more liberal with DIY maintenance. Cleaning out valleys and resealing pipes are essential. In most cases, an insured professional should do your repairs and maintenance.

It is hard to say what specifically broke your tiles, but the most common reason is foot traffic. Satellite dish installers, window washers, painters, Christmas light installation, gutter installers, and other trades often break tiles, and sometimes they do not report it for fear of repercussions. Sometimes, the movement of the house can break tiles as well. Regardless of the reason, it will eventually cause a leak so it is important to do annual maintenance/inspection by a professional to avoid costly leaks.

Yes, however, you need to have a structural engineer assess the roof and make sure it can sustain a heavier payload.

Depends on the life of the roof. Less than 10 years, assess but probably okay, 10-20 get it assessed, 20+ get assessed but expect to reroof BEFORE. Our solar contractor has shown us how to get a rebate for reroofing wherever solar panels are to be installed, saving you hundreds or even thousands.

You can wait, but it is not recommended and this is why. What causes leaks aren't just water; in fact, exposure to the sun and animals is what is needed to cause the leak, the water simply travels through the hole created by the sun and/or animal. Remember, the underlayment IS your roof, not the tile. The tile is just there to protect the underlayment and for aesthetic reasons. This underlayment is made with oils, which get eaten away relatively quickly by the sun and dry it out, causing it to crack/tear. Animals also enjoy roofing products to create nests, etc.