Selecting roofing material is one of the most significant home improvement decisions a homeowner must make. When making this choice, it is crucial to take into account factors like longevity, air quality, extra structural support and climate compatibility.
As roofing materials, slate and wood roofs offer unique aesthetics while being energy efficient.
Asphalt
Asphalt shingles are one of the most widely-used roof covering options, providing affordable yet easy installation by professional roofers. Furthermore, they come with an abundance of color and shading choices.
Asphalt shingle roofs typically last less long and use less energy, and are less durable in areas prone to storms, high winds, or hailstorms.
Asphalt shingles come in two standard designs, three-tab shingles and architectural (or dimensional). Three-tab shingles feature two slots and are simpler, while architectural shingles have an intricate, layered design. Both kinds of asphalt shingles often come with manufacturer’s warranties and come in various colors and styles to complement different home architecture styles; asphalt shingles can even be recycled at the end of their lifespan!
Wood
Wood roofs bring classic charm and natural insulation benefits that can lower energy bills. Furthermore, depending on its species of wood used for roofing, it may even resist insects and moisture damage.
Cedar, pine needles, cypress and oak are the top four choice wood roofing options, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Cedar stands out as being the most resilient of them all due to its resistance against rot, insects and moisture damage.
Wallaba shingles are an excellent option for tropical climates, offering insect-repellant qualities and making a cost-effective alternative to cedar roofs. Furthermore, these durable shingles require less maintenance. Unfortunately, they may be susceptible to fire; however, homeowners can protect them with fire retardant treatments or coatings.
Slate
Slate roofs are among the longest-lived roofing materials, often lasting century after century. Renowned for their beautiful classic appearance and eco-friendliness, slate is often chosen in extreme climate homes. Unfortunately, due to being more costly and fragile than other types of roofing it can be more difficult to find contractors familiar with installing slate.
Slate roofing materials come in various colors and sizes, which allow it to complement a range of architectural styles. Slate roofs work well with bungalow, cottage, Craftsman and Tudor-style houses. Due to its weight requirements, installing slate requires having your house constructed or framed around its weight; retrofitting might become costlier.
Clay
Clay tiles provide long-term value and beautiful aesthetics. Fireproof, they don’t rot or attract insects, are 100% natural materials and help keep homes cool during summer and warm during winter.
However, clay tile roofs can be expensive and fragile if they aren’t regularly maintained by a professional roofing company. Furthermore, their weight necessitates extra framing during installation in order to support it.
Molded tile pieces combine into an effective barrier to protect structures against the likes of fire, high winds, sun and snow damage – an appealing choice for Mediterranean, Mission and Southwestern-style houses.
Rolled
Rolled roofing is an economical and simple alternative to composite shingles that is easy to install. Constructed from fiberglass or organic felt and coated with granules for extra strength and durability, rolled roofing makes an excellent choice for patios, three-season rooms, sheds, gazebos, garages with low pitch roofs.
No roofing material should be considered suitable for homes due to its short lifespan and vulnerability to extreme weather conditions, making asphalt roofing unsuitable as a permanent roof covering solution in areas with heavy rainfall.
Homeowners typically favor shingles over rolled roofing because shingles are more attractive and provide greater design options, as well as lasting longer. When selecting the ideal material for your roofing project, take into consideration your individual needs, slope of the roof, climate conditions, etc.