1. When Your Roof Was Installed or Repaired Last

Does your home have the original roof, or were repairs made within the past few years? Depending on the type of shingles you have and the age of your roof, you may need to keep an eye out for leaks or even schedule a replacement. When your roof needs to be replaced will depend on the existing structure and shingle type. Asphalt shingles will hold up for 20 years, while wood shake roofs can last up to 30.

2. How Your Roof is Ventilated

Proper ventilation is important for a healthy roof system. If your roof lacks air flow it may be susceptible to mold and mildew. In addition to a main vent in your roof, there are a few other factors that affect how air moves through your attic to the roof.

Do a quick run through your attic to check for the following:

• A gap-free layer of insulation on the attic floor to protect the house from heat gain and loss.
• A vapor barrier under the insulation and next to the ceiling to stop moisture from rising into the attic.
• Enough open, vented spaces to allow air to pass in and out freely. Typically, a roof should have 1 foot of vent space for every 150 square feet of attic space. Calculate how many vents your roof needs here.
• A minimum of 1 inch between the insulation and roof sheathing.

3. What Type of Shingles You Have

A variety of materials can be used as shingles, from asphalt to wood or even slate. Each one comes with a different warranty, and durability depends on your area. Keep in mind that harsh weather conditions such as high winds or extreme cold can crack clay shingles.

4. The Fire Rating of Your Roof

Fire rating is a system for classifying the fire resistances of roofing materials. Classes are labeled A, B and C. Class A materials have the highest resistance to fire that originates from outside of the structure, and these include clay tiles, fiberglass asphalt composition shingles and metal roofing.

5. Pitch, or Slope, of Your Roof

Pitch will determine what type of shingles are best suited for your roof.