How long should a roof last?
Roofs degrade at different rates depending on a large number of factors: the quality of original construction, the level of abuse, the level of maintenance, appropriateness of design, etc. Poorly designed and installed roofs may go as few as six or seven years before they failed, and there may be old coal tar built up roofs that are over 60 years old. Most building owners, roofing contractors and designers feel 20 years is an acceptable service life.
