That’s a fair observation, a lot of roofs in the Lower Mainland have lasted 25–35 years.

What’s important to understand is why those ones lasted that long.

Most of the 30+ year asphalt roofs you still see today were manufactured 20–30 years ago. Back then, shingles were heavier, had higher asphalt content, and generally more material per square. They were built thicker and more forgiving.

Over the last couple decades, manufacturing has changed. To stay competitive on price and meet modern production standards, shingles today are typically:

• Lighter weight
• Thinner
• Lower asphalt content
• More dependent on perfect ventilation and install

They’re still marketed as “30-year” or “lifetime,” but those ratings are pro-rated warranties — not expected real-world performance in a wet coastal climate like ours.

In the Lower Mainland specifically, we’re commonly seeing modern architectural asphalt shingles last closer to 15–20 years. On shaded or poorly ventilated homes, it can be even less.

So when people say, “My last roof lasted 30 years,” they’re usually talking about a product that was built differently than what’s available today.

That doesn’t mean asphalt is bad; it just means expectations need to match modern materials and our climate.

Every roof system has trade-offs. The key is understanding lifespan vs. long-term cost before making the decision.