For countless reasons, your roof is arguably the most important component and the least maintained. The primary function of your roof is to protect your building's structure, keep it warm, and guard it from the environmental elements. A well maintained roof also is one of the most essential items that can boost your homes value the most. There are many different types of roofing materials on the market, so knowing as much information about them and what to choose from can be very challenging. This is where we come in and try to provide you with the information needed to better prepare you before talking to any professional about your needs.
Below are some roofing material types on the market available for you to choose from. These are the most common choices but there are others. We hope that with this valuable information under your belt, you can begin to start forming educated questions for us to answer for you.
We have also included the good and bad that is presented with each type. Good luck and we hope to hear from you soon. |
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ASPHALT SHINGLES
One of the most classic roofing materials out there is asphalt shingles and is the most seen on modern homes now. These are most favored because they are affordable, easy to install, easy to repair or as a replace option when needed. Choices exist from basic to higher end architectural or 3-tab shingles.
The downside is that due to the way they are designed, asphalt shingles are not the most durable option to protect your structure. They can last up to 30 years, depending on the exposure that they are given like just wind and sun. Once the granules on asphalt roofing material are gone, the whole roof needs to be replaced. |
METAL ROOFING
There are a few options when it comes to metal roofing material. There are metal shakes and shingles, standing seam metal roofing, and stone coated steel. Each one of these are popular options due to the ability to take a massive beating, keep moisture away, and provide great UV protection.
Depending on the style that you choose, the cost can vary for metal roofing. Another thing to consider is that while metal roofs can withstand the impact of brutal weather like hail and things like water and fire, the look of the home will start to change due to the the damage that it takes. |
SLATE ROOFING
Slate based tiles or shingles roofing material is popular due to it's natural type of roofing material for homes. It is beautiful, incredibly durable, and can last for a very long time under normal weather conditions.
The problem with slate is that it is heavy-meaning not all homes can support the weight. They also tend to be very pricy and challenges the budget of the project. They also require a specialist who knows how to install them and they are very hard to find. Repairs can also be more difficult for slate tiles and shingles due to the lack of contractors that know how to work with them. |
CLAY TILES
Another natural looking roofing material is Clay Tiles. This material is made from earthen clay, molded and fired for extreme durability. It is an excellent option for homes in very hot weather making it very popular in southern, coastal, and desert regions. This roofing material absorbs less moisture which means they require less maintenance.
This type of material is quite pricy and tends to be very challenging to many project budgets. Although clay tiles are much lighter than concrete, they can still add much weight to a homes building structure which can cause issues with some homes. While they do offer some kind of durability, they are very fragile and can break when they are worked on. |
CONCRETE TILES
A very durable option is Concrete Tiles. This type of roofing can mimic different types of material like asphalt, slate, and even wood shingles. Concrete is much cheaper than clay and can sometimes last up to 50 years.
Once again, the downside of this type of roofing material is that is is extremely heavy. This weight definitely puts a great deal of stress on the homes structure and requires a lot of maintenance due to water absorption. |
Wood Roofing
Wood Roofing is hands down, one of the most classic types of roofs available. It's features are a beautiful rustic option that lasts a very long time, inherits strong and durability traits, and best of all provides energy efficiency for the property structure.
Although this option looks very attractive, this roofing option is very pricey on the front as well as the cost of ownership. Costs are amongst the highest to just order and install. We also have to account for the upkeep with DIY maintenance or service contract. The upkeep of a wood roof is very time consuming and very labor intense. Without it, the roof can become severely damaged and ineffective. |
Synthetic Composite
Synthetic Composite is an affordable, extremely light weight, and a very durable option to consider. These synthetic roofs offer the largest impact and fire ratings, hurricane wind resistance, and state of the art UV protection and insulation from it's harmful traits.
Although the other roofing materials are at times difficult to get, synthetic roofing is very easily accessible. It is also provided in a wide range of amazingly beautiful styles and the slate and cedar shake is also included. This roofing option becomes even more attractive due to it's long lasting durability and pretty much virtually maintenance free. |
We hope that this provides enough information for you to begin your project. We look forward to hearing from you so that we can begin to help you lay out your next steps to repairing or replacing your roof.