5 ms·

Do we have any insight on what these panels will be like 30, 50, 80 years in the future? This is the lifespan of some homes, and power plants.

lkbm 5y ago
The standard lifespan for a roof seems to be ~20 years, though that seems low to me.
- toomuchtodo 5y ago
  That’s a reasonable estimate based on architectural shingles, although 15 years is more likely in latitudes with more solar exposure throughout the year (the Sunbelt in the US). Metal roofs last longer, but have a higher initial upfront cost. Huge fan of metal standing seam roofs for longevity (40-70 year lifetime) as well as robust mount support (clipping to the seams) for solar racking. https://youtu.be/k6mrRUZv8Ak https://youtu.be/k6mrRUZv8Ak
  - nicoburns 5y ago
    This thread has loads of people talking about roofs lasting 50-100 years https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5575330/when-does-this-roof-need-replacing/p2 https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5575330/when...
    - toomuchtodo 5y ago
      My estimate is what home insurers use. Roofs can and do last longer.
    - quickthrowman 5y ago
      Yes, there are types of roofs that last a long time. Standing seam metal, slate, clay, concrete, and copper roofs all last a long time (50+ years). Asphalt shingles and EPDM flat roofs last 15-25, cedar shakes can last 30+ years. The long lasting ones are substantially more expensive than asphalt shingles, 3x at a minimum.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
  That's a US roof covered in asphalt shingles. Stone, slate, tile roofs in Europe (and in some parts of the US) have lifespans measured in centuries.
  - rsj_hn 5y ago
    We just had to replace our tile roof for a 20 year old house. I've seen estimates of 20-50 years and I'm sure you can find some that last centuries, just don't buy a tile roof expecting it to do that. There are still Ford model T's on the road today, but we don't tell people that cars last a century.
    - laurencerowe 5y ago
      What was the failure mode of your tile roof that meant it needed replacing? Coming from the UK where most roofs are tile I don’t think I ever saw one need replacing there, maybe a few tiles need realigning. Most tile roofs were the same as the house itself, so over a century for large swaths of the country. The weather is less extreme than in the US though.
      - PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
        "Tile" in the US probably (though not definitively) means "spanish tile" - those terracotta curved tiles. It's not the same as what I remember tile meaning in the UK, which was typically slate. Also, I spoke with some roofers in Pennsylvania who explained to me the difference between Welsh slate and the stuff from PA ... way less durable because the layers are not as tightly bonded, and then you add freeze/thaw and it just doesn't last as long.
        rsj_hn 5y ago
        correct, Also the underlay needs to be replaced often and if it's not the tiles can come loose or get damaged. Replacing the underlay requires removing all the tile, which is labor intensive, and then depending on the HOA/owner preferences, you can try to color match damaged tiles or replace the tiles, or replace portions, all of these are done regularly. Depending on type of underlay used, it might need to be replaced every 7-25 years, again depending on the weather conditions and materials used.

lkbm 5y ago

The standard lifespan for a roof seems to be ~20 years, though that seems low to me.

toomuchtodo 5y ago
That’s a reasonable estimate based on architectural shingles, although 15 years is more likely in latitudes with more solar exposure throughout the year (the Sunbelt in the US). Metal roofs last longer, but have a higher initial upfront cost. Huge fan of metal standing seam roofs for longevity (40-70 year lifetime) as well as robust mount support (clipping to the seams) for solar racking. https://youtu.be/k6mrRUZv8Ak https://youtu.be/k6mrRUZv8Ak
- nicoburns 5y ago
  This thread has loads of people talking about roofs lasting 50-100 years https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5575330/when-does-this-roof-need-replacing/p2 https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5575330/when...
  - toomuchtodo 5y ago
    My estimate is what home insurers use. Roofs can and do last longer.
  - quickthrowman 5y ago
    Yes, there are types of roofs that last a long time. Standing seam metal, slate, clay, concrete, and copper roofs all last a long time (50+ years). Asphalt shingles and EPDM flat roofs last 15-25, cedar shakes can last 30+ years. The long lasting ones are substantially more expensive than asphalt shingles, 3x at a minimum.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
That's a US roof covered in asphalt shingles. Stone, slate, tile roofs in Europe (and in some parts of the US) have lifespans measured in centuries.
- rsj_hn 5y ago
  We just had to replace our tile roof for a 20 year old house. I've seen estimates of 20-50 years and I'm sure you can find some that last centuries, just don't buy a tile roof expecting it to do that. There are still Ford model T's on the road today, but we don't tell people that cars last a century.
  - laurencerowe 5y ago
    What was the failure mode of your tile roof that meant it needed replacing? Coming from the UK where most roofs are tile I don’t think I ever saw one need replacing there, maybe a few tiles need realigning. Most tile roofs were the same as the house itself, so over a century for large swaths of the country. The weather is less extreme than in the US though.
    - PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
      "Tile" in the US probably (though not definitively) means "spanish tile" - those terracotta curved tiles. It's not the same as what I remember tile meaning in the UK, which was typically slate. Also, I spoke with some roofers in Pennsylvania who explained to me the difference between Welsh slate and the stuff from PA ... way less durable because the layers are not as tightly bonded, and then you add freeze/thaw and it just doesn't last as long.
      - rsj_hn 5y ago
        correct, Also the underlay needs to be replaced often and if it's not the tiles can come loose or get damaged. Replacing the underlay requires removing all the tile, which is labor intensive, and then depending on the HOA/owner preferences, you can try to color match damaged tiles or replace the tiles, or replace portions, all of these are done regularly. Depending on type of underlay used, it might need to be replaced every 7-25 years, again depending on the weather conditions and materials used.