Average life spans of roofs
How long does a roof last? That has a lot to do with the roofing material chosen as well as; weather and climate, building design and construction, and the regularity of roof maintenance performed and so on.
Life expectancy and various pros and cons for various roofing materials, including the following:
- Average lifespan: 20 years.
- Pros: Easier to install than some materials, and often easier to repair.
- Cons: Moderate protection, shorter life span than some materials.
- Average lifespan: 30 years.
- Pros: Different colour and texture options, reliable durability.
- Cons: Leaks can form from punctures/tears, sometimes prone to fade.
Wood shake (or wood shingle) roofing
- Average lifespan: 30 years.
- Pros: Attractive natural shades, renewably sourced.
- Cons: Higher cost for materials and installation.
- Average lifespan: 50 years.
- Pros: Impervious to rot, eco-friendly and recyclable.
- Cons: Higher cost, complex installation.
- Average lifespan: 40 years.
- Pros: Natural sourcing, high resale value.
- Cons: Few colour options, complex to repair.
- Average lifespan: 40 years.
- Pros: Long lasting, minimal maintenance.
- Cons: Not suitable for all roof styles, professional installation required.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
OpenUSD possibilities: Look before you leap
Being ready for the OpenUSD solutions set to transform architecture and design.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025
Highlighting the continuing threat to trades persons.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Now available in Arabic and Chinese aswell as English.
The context, schemes, standards, roles and relevance of the Building Safety Act.
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.