Whether you want to invest in a new roof or replace your old rooftop shingles, you’ve probably come across premium asphalt shingles lasting 50 years.
Alternatively, you also have a three tab, 30-year, 25-year, and 40-year roofing shingles.
An essential concern is whether or not 50-year roof shingles will last you for 50 years. Even more so, is it worth spending on 50-year roofing shingles?
In this article, we’ll share with you everything you need to know about it!

How Long Do 50-Year Shingles Last?
There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding how long a 50-year roofing shingle could last.
Sure, the product label says it will last you for 50 years, but in reality, installing these shingles in roof systems would last you between 30 to 40 years at best (if you are lucky enough for you’re flashing to ask that long).
Of course, this is possible, provided that your roof is given the proper maintenance and care regularly.
Similarly, 30-year shingles would last you for 25 years and only 12 to 15 years if not cared for.
The largest factor that contributes to your shingle roof life span is weather extremity.
Although 50-year roof shingles can withstand hail, strong winds, and heavy rain, asphalt architectural shingles aren’t built to withstand a hurricane-prone area or areas where the weather fluctuates regularly.
Installing 50-year shingles for roof systems in Florida, for example, would last a lot less than if you lived in Virginia.
Texas has mostly fair, humid weather, allowing your 50-year shingles to be more ideally suited to the area’s conditions.
Are 50-year Shingles Worth It: 3 Factors You Should Consider
For one, we already know location plays a huge role in the life span of 50-year shingles.
Choosing an area with fair and less extreme weather will allow you to maximize the longevity of 50-year or even 30-year shingles.
Now, what about the other factors? Let’s look closely at each one:
Guarantee & Warranty Coverage
Some manufacturers will tell you that a certain shingle will have a lifetime guarantee and warranty for 20 to 30 years.
It’s important to note that shingles don’t have a lifetime guarantee and will break down mostly before its advertised life span expectancy.
Warranties for your roof may also only cover the cost of roofing materials, leaving you to pay for costly installation and labor costs.
Rather than have this happen to you, it’s crucial to set all the necessary details at the start of the roofing project. Asking for both material and workmanship warranties will help you save more.
How Long You Plan to Live In Your Current Home
This factor is also directly related to the guarantee of your shingle. We already know that 30, 40, and 50-year shingles won’t necessarily last you at the expected life span advertised.
Even so, these could last you between 25 to 40 years at most until you’ll need a roof replacement.
If your plan is to live in your home for the next 5 to 6 decades, 50-year shingles are worth the investment. If not, you might want to consider cheaper, alternative options.
Cleaning Your Shingles
This may sound like an easy job; however, many homeowners still get this part wrong, specifically by using bleach to clean fungus or algae.
Some roofing contractors will also use a pressure washer to remove the fungus. This is just as bad as using bleach because it damages your home and roof structure.
Using environmentally friendly products and regular maintenance can significantly enhance a shingle’s life span and even more so for a 50-year shingle.
Final Thoughts
Before any roofing project, make sure to discuss all the essential factors with your roofing contractor before installing your shingles.
We hope you enjoyed this article! For any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below!