Even with a perfect installation, no roof lasts forever. Wind, sun, rain, and hail will take their toll, and sooner or later your roof will have to be replaced. You can postpone that day of reckoning for many years by taking good care of your roof.

Pay attention to roof modifications: Any change, patch, or alteration, be it for vent pipe, skylights, satellite dishes, or repair, requires attention to detail. Waterproofing new joints, matching the look of the existing roof, and using proper detailing are all critical to the success and life expectancy of your roof. Have your roof inspected routinely, cleaned periodically as needed, and minor repairs seen to in a timely way, and you can greatly extend the roof's lifespan.

Most roof leaks occur due to problems with sarking, flashing, pointing and bedding of tiles and not with the actual roof covering coverings. In the long run, doing these occasional small repairs will cost less than waiting for extensive failure and subsequent roof replacement.