Do You Need The Best Roofing Materials?

Whether you choose wood shake, asphalt shingles, synthetic roofing material, or something else, you want only the top roofing materials for your home. 

Roofing materials contribute to the overall style and design of your home, all the while keeping yourself and your family safe from the elements. Upgrading your roof will add value to your home while giving it the makeover it deserves.

How should you go about choosing the best roofing material for your home? We’ve put together a list of six materials that roofing contractors commonly suggest to homeowners looking to advance the look, style, color, and safety rating of their roof. Hopefully this list will help you make an informed decision.

Before we get started, you should keep the following questions in mind, as each home and homeowner varies in these aspects:

• Will the material require special framing?
• Is the material available in the style and color you desire?
• Does the material meet local fire codes?
• Are there installation or maintenance issues to think about?
• Does the material perform well?
• What is the cost, warranty, and life span of the material?

Answering these questions will help solidify your choice. It will also help you prepare for the future.

Asphalt Shingles

The most commonly used roofing material in the United States is the asphalt shingle. This shingle type is popular because it is affordable, easy to install, and can be reinforced with organic materials and/or fiberglass without changing its outward appearance. Asphalt comes in many colors and locations. However, it has a shorter life span than other top roofing materials. It also fails to provide superior insulation. 

Asphalt shingles cost anywhere from $70 to $120 per square and can last between 20 and 25 years. You’ll find that asphalt shingles work best with architectural style homes, specifically in suburban areas. 

Clay and Concrete Tiles

Looking to add texture to your home? Clay and concrete tiles are timeless solutions. Clay tiles can be flat, scalloped, or ribbed. They are heavy and should be installed by a team of professionals. Concrete tiles, on the other hand, are versatile and less expensive than clay counterparts. 

Both clay and concrete tiles are long-lasting. Concrete tiles are energy efficient. You’ll find these tiles work well on Mediterranean, Southwestern, Spanish, or Mission-style homes. 

However, both forms are expensive, heavy, and require additional framing to secure in place. Clay and concrete tiles cost roughly $300 to $500 per square and last between 40 and 50 years.

Metal Roofing

Do you live in an area that requires extreme resistance to weather-related problems? Metal roofing might be the route for your home. Metal roofs comes in both panels and shingles. Materials include stainless steel, zinc, aluminum, and copper.

These roofs are sleek, lightweight, and recyclable. They are also durable, lasting longer than asphalt or wood. However, metal roofs are relatively expensive. They cost anywhere from $100 (at the low end) to $800 (at the high end) per square. Still, metal roofing can last for 40 to 75 years without needing a replacement.

Slate

If you want your home to look and feel beautiful, slate is a great choice. It offers a distinct and elegant appearance with colors like green, grey, red, black, and purple. Slate is durable, fire-resistant, recyclable, and sustainable. It works well with Colonial, European, and French homes and lasts 50 to 100 years or longer.

However, slate is expensive and heavy. It requires extra framing for support and professional installation for guaranteed results. You’ll also find the quality may vary from supplier to supplier. Prices start at $600 per square. 

Wood Shingles and Shake

For hundreds of years, wood shingles and wood shake were the most popular roofing choice for homeowners. The shingles and shake weather to an admirable gray. While shakes are handmade and shingles are machine-cut, both offer a rustic and natural look from materials like cedar, redwood, and southern pine.

However, in some areas, fire codes prohibit the use of wood roofing materials. They can also be a danger in wet climates, where roofs can mold, rot, or split. Wood shingles and shake cost anywhere from $100 to $150 a square and will last between 25 and 30 years.

Synthetic Roofing Products

Finally, synthetic roofing products like rubber, plastic, and polymer are becoming more popular as top roofing materials. They are designed to give you the color, look, and texture of materials like wood, slate, and stone. However, they are also designed to be strong, easy to maintain, and fire resistant.

Contact us for all your roofing needs at 404-863-2598.

*Original article and information published by HGTV.COM.