Central Connecticut is hard on roofs: humid summers, freeze-thaw winters, nor'easters, and a tree canopy that drops leaves on everything. Each material lasts a different length of time here, and a few things shorten all of them.
How long before a roof needs to be replaced? Typical lifespans
- Three-tab asphalt shingles: 15 to 20 years.
- Architectural asphalt shingles: 25 to 30 years; premium lines like GAF's UHDZ carry longer warranties.
- Standing-seam metal: 40 to 70 years.
- Slate: 75 to 100-plus years for the slate itself; the flashing and fasteners fail first.
- Cedar shakes: 25 to 30 years with maintenance.
- EPDM or TPO flat-roof membranes: 20 to 30 years.
Those are typical ranges. Where your roof lands depends on what the weather does to it and how it was installed.
What shortens a roof's life in Connecticut
- Ice dams: water backing under shingles at the eaves every winter.
- Poor attic ventilation: a hot attic cooks shingles from below all summer.
- Tree canopy: shade, moss, and leaf-clogged gutters.
- Nor'easter wind lifting shingles that were under-nailed.
- Shortcuts: one row of ice-and-water shield instead of two, no drip edge, reused flashing, roofing over old layers.
When to replace roof shingles: the signs
Granules in the gutters, bald patches on the sunny side, curling shingles, leaks in more than one spot, and a sag you can see from the street. If you have two or more of those, read our repair vs. replacement guide before you call anyone.
What makes a roof last longer
Mostly small things done right: two rows of ice-and-water shield, 48 inches past the interior wall and double the Connecticut code minimum; drip edge on every rake; attic ventilation inspected and corrected on every job; sheathing replaced when it's bad instead of nailed over; and a GAF-certified install with the manufacturer's warranty behind it. After that, it comes down to cleaning the gutters every November.
What to expect from us when it is time
You get those details from a licensed crew that has been doing this since 1991, along with a written estimate that explains each line and a fair price with no pressure. A typical asphalt roof is done in a day, and we sweep the yard for nails before we leave.
Written by the crew at Pattison Construction, a family-owned general contractor in Wallingford, CT since 1991. GAF Certified Contractor, licensed Connecticut Home Improvement Contractor HIC.0672217. Free estimates, no pressure.