Asphalt shingles may not last as long as once thought. Here's what new research shows
New data looks at asphalt shingles lifespan
FOX 13's Jordan Bowen reports on new data showing that asphalt shingles may weaken much quicker than previously thought. State officials have been considering incentivizing homeowners to invest more in protective roofing.
TAMPA, Fla. - How well do asphalt shingles hold up against strong winds? State officials say they don't last as long as once thought.
What they're saying:
"Our long-standing research into roofs has led to the conclusion that asphalt shingle roof covers will not survive 100 mile per hour winds after ten years of age," Michael Newman with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety told a Florida Senate committee earlier this month.
Last week, Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky spoke at a Florida Senate Committee hearing on Banking and Insurance referencing a new report by Applied Research Associates. It found that based on observations of damage from Hurricanes Ian, Michael and Irma, "older asphalt shingles exhibit poorer performance compared to relatively new ones."
It also found that nearly half of all shingle roofs exhibited "detectable damage, suggesting minimal advancement in wind resistance since Hurricane Charley in 2004."
New research shows asphalt shingles could become less wind-resistant after 10 years.
"The sealants have changed quite a bit with most of the manufacturers in the last 10 years, so those sealants perform much better than the previous generation of the shingles had," Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association Director of Technical Services Mike Silvers said.
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Silvers also says that many consumers don't realize there are different types of asphalt shingles that offer more protection than others that aren't as expensive as, say, metal roofing.
"The shingle industry has not done a real good job in our minds of allowing the consumer to understand that there are good, better and better shingles," Silvers said.
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What's next:
State officials say they'll continue to look at ways to make more protective roofing more financially accessible to homeowners.
"We must find ways to drive private capital toward resilient retrofits alongside public investments like the grant program, especially for the more expensive actions like new roofs," Newman said.
The Source: Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Jordan Bowen.
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