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You should plan on replacing architectural shingles every 20 to 25 years in most cases, although you could see up to around 30 years of useful life. Replacing your roof before it reaches the end of its life is a good idea because it reduces the risk of roof failure and roof leaks, which can contribute to extensive property damage and hefty repair costs. Your shingles’ life span can be shorter if you live in an area that sees a lot of extreme weather, so plan on getting a roof inspection done every few years to identify the best timeline for replacement.

There should be small gaps between your roof and the walls of your home, and other buildings. These small gaps let building materials shift, expand, and contract with weather and other outside forces, and they prevent moisture from wicking down walls from roofing and gutter systems. Without these strategic gaps, your home’s exterior and its finishes can sustain water damage, decay, peel, delaminate, and crack. However, there is a fine line between a smart gap and a problematic gap—all  gaps should be small, intentional, and covered or filled in with foam insulation to prevent pests from using them as access points.

More and more insurance companies are writing torch down applications out of their liability insurance for contractors. If torch down is covered, they generally require a worker to stay on site for two hours after the last flame is extinguished.

For this reason, cold application modified bitumen—also known as “peel and stick”—is becoming more popular, and torch down is decreasing in popularity. Modified bitumen is taking its place, as it uses both hot and cold applications.

A shingle roof costs between $7,500 and $24,000 in total. The exact cost depends on the size of your roof and the number of bundles of shingles required. A bundle of shingles typically costs between $40 and $60, though contractors might be able to get a lower price than you’d get buying from a local hardware store.