What is the typical lifespan of a roof?

The lifespan of a commercial food depends on a variety of factors. Here's an average breakdown.

Roofing System
Average Service Life (years)
What to Look For
TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) 18 – 25 Heat-welded seams resist leaks; early-generation TPOs may age faster.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) 20 – 30 Excellent chemical resistance; plasticizer loss can embrittle older sheets.
EPDM (Rubber) 22 – 35 UV-resistant; ballasted systems last longest but weigh more.
Modified Bitumen (SBS/APP) 18 – 30 Multi-ply redundancy; seams and granule loss are life-limiters.
Built-Up Roof (BUR) 25 – 35 Hot asphalt + felts; UV-protective gravel critical
Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) 20 – 30 (per coating cycle) Re-coat every 10–15 yrs to extend life indefinitely
Standing-Seam Metal 30 – 50+ Factory paint warranties 20–40 yrs; fastener/back-out on screw-down panels shortens life.
Green Roof System Membrane life similar to base system, but overall assembly 40–50+ Growth medium shields membrane from UV; weight and root management are key.

Numbers assume professional installation, semi-annual maintenance, and roofs located in temperate to mixed-climate zones.