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If your roof is nearing the 20-year mark in age, you probably should start worrying about the roof’s longevity. If you don’t know the age, it may be time to figure out who installed your roof, so you can estimate the age accurately. You then can make plans to pay for the upcoming roof replacement. You also can learn how to inspect a roof yourself to look for signs of damage that may indicate a need for a replacement.

The most common defect in a flat roof is leaking. Flat roofs have minimal slope, so water pools more readily on a flat roof than on a sloped roof, and the risk of the waterproof membrane failing increases with exposure. Tears and punctures from foot traffic and blown debris are other common problems, especially with single-ply roofing membranes like TPO and EPDM roofs.

The placement of snow guards depends on the individual roof, but typically snow guards are placed between 12 and 18 inches from the eaves, though they can be placed as close as six inches and as far as 24 inches from the eaves. A roofing professional can assess the roof and potential snow loads to determine the best placement.

Asphalt roofs provide better insulation than metal roofs, but that doesn’t always mean that asphalt roofs are better for reducing heating and cooling bills. In hotter climates, metal roofs will usually be better for home efficiency because the material reflects more sunlight and reduces solar heat gain. In colder climates, asphalt roofs are sometimes superior in terms of efficiency because they introduce more solar heat gain to your home and have greater insulating capabilities. However, metal roofs installed with an air gap can provide similar levels of insulation.