20 years
The life expectancy of a modified bitumen roof depends on a multitude of factors, such as, home location, maintenance, and architectural design. However, manufactures suggest the rolled membrane roofing can last up to 20 years.

Modified bitumen roofing is a long-lasting material with an average life span of 20 years. But since it’s a low-maintenance roofing system, it can last even longer with just basic care and maintenance.

5 to 10 years
Asphalt Roll Roof The average lifespan of asphalt roll roofing is only 5 to 10 years.

Life expectancy – in the majority of cases, the life expectancy of a roof will boil down to the skill of the contractor chosen to install it. EPDM has a life expectancy of 50 years, comparing incredibly well to its bitumen felt competitors. The average guarantee a company will offer to install a felt roof is 5 years.

Flat roofs usually come with a 10- to 20-year warranty but can last 25 years if you build the roofs right and maintain them using commonsense rules.

Cost of Modified Bitumen Roof

Both EPDM & Modified Bitumen offer benefits to the flat roofing industry. Modbit tends to be less expensive and offer more aesthetically appealing options, while EPDM is more environmentally friendly, easier to install, and tends to have a longer life cycle when installed correctly.

A typical commercial flat roof membrane should last on average 20-25 years before needing to be replaced. On the shorter end it could need replacing in 10 years, and on the longer end, it could last even 50 or more years.

Roofing material that lasts the longest are concrete, clay or slate tiles. These materials significantly outperform other natural products like wood shakes or any manufactured roofing materials including asphalt shingles and metal roofing. Although these materials have a good lifespan, they are not as durable.

Age – over time, weathering and the elements take their toll on your roof. If your roof is over 20 years old it will most likely need replacing. Algae, moss, mold – algae, moss and mold are most common in shaded areas, indicate moisture damage on the roof, and can lead to rot.

Luckily, when modified bitumen coating is damaged, repair is possible! There are a few different ways it can be handled, although applying a patch is the most common method.

Slate, copper and tile roofs can last more than 50 years. Homeowners with wood shake roofs should expect them to last about 30 years, while fiber cement shingles last about 25 years and asphalt shingle/composition roofs last about 20 years, the NAHB found.

Modified bitumen roofing is heavier than roll roofing. It offers a 10 to 15 years lifespan, and the asphalt is tied to the roof neatly. It does not require nails or other stuff like the roll roofing needs. This roofing material is also available in the self-adhering version.

In a freezing climate, the action of water and ice in such cracks can lead to an accelerated wear in the latter portion of the roof’s life. We have successfully extended the life of modified bitumen roofs with modest cracking by coating with a roof paint formulated for use on this material.

What is Modified Bitumen? Modified Bitumen was developed in Europe during the 1960s, and it is a rendition of the old built-up roofing (BUR) system. Modified Bitumen flat roofing is a single-ply system made of asphalt bitumen, modified with polymers, and reinforced with fiberglass and/or polyester.

Unlike modified bitumen, contractors don’t use flames or electricity to apply an EPDM roof. This shortens the installation time. Contractors install EPDM roofs either by using water based adhesives or securing the membrane mechanically. As a business owner, you won’t have to worry about long interruption to your daily operations.