Deciding On The Right Roof For Your House

Roofing Materials

If your home or other property’s roof is about 20 years old or so, it might be time to start thinking about having it completely replaced. As a roof gets older it will start to present more and more problems that will cost you money every single time. Having an experienced roofer inspect your roof will let you know exactly what shape it happens to be in and whether it really is time to replace it. Once the time comes for you to start to consider a new roof, you will find that there are plenty of materials to choose from. There are natural roofing materials like wood shingles and slate, as well as manmade options such as asphalt shingles, sheet metal, and much more. In fact, the number of roofing options that people have nowadays is greater than ever before. Deciding on which one is right for your home or other property might be complicated because there are various things to take into account such as cost and durability.

Factors To Consider About Roofing Materials

Some of the things that you will have to think about when deciding what roofing material to choose for your new roof include how long it will last because not all materials last the same amount of time. How fire resistant is the material? How heavy is it and can your property’s structure support such weight? How much slope does your roof have? How visually appealing are the materials? And various other things. Roofers Industrial Roofing Contractors-Commercial & Residential Pros can help. Here is a closer look at some of the roofing materials that you might consider:

·         Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are the most popular types of shingles for residential homes because they are inexpensive. Durable, and easy to install. Asphalt shingles can be made from an organic paper fiber mat which makes them great for cold weather conditions and wind-resistant, or from fiberglass to be more fire and moisture resistant.  

·         Metal Roofing Material

Metal roofing is more commonly associated with commercial properties than residential homes, but that has been changing lately as more metal roofing options such as metal shingles and sheets have become available for homes and more people have come to realize the benefits of metal roofing such as the fact that it can last 70 years or even more depend on the metal that is used, the quality of the workmanship, and the weather conditions that it is subjected to. However, metal roofing is a lot more expensive than traditional asphalt shingles and the initial expense keeps some people from going with this option unless we are talking about commercial property. Also, metal roofing can be noisy when it rains hard.

·         Clay Tiles

Some people choose a roof with clay tiles because they like the look which can be described as traditionally Italian or Spanish; although clay tiles can also resemble wood shakes or slate. One of the benefits of clay these tiles is that they are exceptionally fire-resistant, making them great for places where fires are common. But there are various downsides to clay tiles such as the fact that they are expensive, brittle, and heavy.  

·         Plastic Polymer

Plastic polymer shingles are made from high-tech material that can resemble wood shakes or slate. One of the benefits that homeowners get from plastic polymer shingles is that they are long-lasting; in fact, plastic polymer shingles can last well over 50 years. They are also low maintenance shingles so you will not have to worry about them as much as some other options. Plus, plastic polymer shingles provide good fire and wind resistance.

·         Concrete Tiles

If you happen to have a steeply sloped roof, concrete tiles might be a good option for you. These tiles are produced from a mixture of Portland cement and sand which gives them excellent fire resistance. However, they are very heavy and will usually require an experienced roofer to install reinforced roof framing to support them.

·         Slate

The best thing about a slate roof is its longevity. A slate roof will last about 125 years, meaning that you will only have to worry about installing it once during your entire lifetime! As you might imagine, slate is also very heavy and will also require a reinforced roofing structure to support its considerable weight. Plus, it is very expensive and requires roofers with special training to install it. But the fact that it last so long might make it the right choice for you.