Engineers and architects say that the most essential part of the house is its foundation. Without a strong foundation, a house would not withstand the elements and would crumble down. That is certainly true. However, there are other essential parts of the house that should not be taken for granted, such as the roof.

Unlike the foundation of the house, the roof is not built to last for a lifetime. There comes a time when a homeowner would need reroofing. Roofs generally last for about 20 years. However, roofs may suffer damage from the elements after hitting the 10 year mark.

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Asphalt Shigle Roof

A roof is one of the most expensive components of a home. Hundreds of different materials have been used as roofing material from sticks to plastic, and grass to glass. When you are looking for a home you need to know what type of roofing material is installed, if it was installed correctly, and the current condition. A thorough home inspection will include a detailed evaluation of the roof. A roof in poor condition can be a deal breaker, so here are some things to look for that can give you a heads-up about the condition of a roof.

The majority of the houses we inspect range in age from the 1950′s to new. The most common roof material we see in San Diego is the three-tab composite asphalt shingle roof. It is made of oil-impregnated fiberglass material, with an aggregate (which looks like kitty litter) pressed into the surface. The aggregate adds color, but its primary purpose is to protect the shingles from UV exposure. Once the aggregate is worn, the shingle deteriorates rather quickly. The majority of asphalt shingles have a life expectancy of 20 or 30 years.

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Choosing the right material for roofing is a very important part of constructing or remodeling a house. The suitable type of roofing enhances the attractiveness and beauty of the home while a wrong selection may make the house look awful and take away its attraction by the mismatch in looks. In order to be perfect, it is prudent to spend some time thinking about various options of roofing shingles available, before finally deciding upon the material of roof for your house.

One can start the search for right roofing shingles by having a good look around the neighboring houses in the community. One can get an idea of traditional roofing shingles by looking at the older houses while the latest materials can be found on recently build newer houses. By looking at these different materials one can imagine & visualize how his house will look with them and whether or not the material will suit their home’s style and architecture, and also the style of the neighborhood.

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