Properly selected roofing materials define the look and the protective qualities of your roof. When choosing roofing materials, answer the following questions:
- Does the material require special framing due to its heaviness?
- Does the color of the material manage your home style?
- Other special installation and maintenance procedures?
- Does the material perform well in extreme weather conditions?
- What is the cost, lifespan in warranty for the product?
Keeping them in mind will help you choose the best material for your home. All roofing materials have their pros and cons. In this article, we’re going to give some details about the most common roofing materials.
Asphalt Shingles
This material, being cheap and long-lasting, is the most popular residential roofing material in the United States. These shingles can be reinforced with fiberglass and organic materials. The major disadvantage of asphalt is its shorter lifespan than other roofing materials. And the quality greatly varies. Asphalt shingles work well with many architectural styles, especially traditional ones.
Clay and Concrete Tiles
Clay and concrete roofing materials add texture and elegance to your roof. Clay tiles are extremely durable but also very heavy and need professional expertise to be installed. Concrete tiles are heave, versatile, and less expensive. This material looks good on Mediterranean, Southwestern, and Spanish-style homes.
Metal Roof
Metal roofs are more durable and resistant to elements. They may be present in panels and shingles styles. The roofing materials used in metal systems are aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and zinc. They are lightweight, long-lasting, and recyclable, but quite expensive. Metal roofing materials work well with cabins, contemporary and cottage styles homes.
Slate Roofs
Slate roof tiles offer a distinctively elegant look to your home and a huge variety of colors. This material is fire-resistant and recyclable. Just like metal roofs, they are pretty expensive and require extra framing to be installed.
Wood Shakes
Wood shakes are handmade and rougher-looking than wood shingles, cut by machine. This material has been used for a very long time. If you live in a fire-prone area, you might need shingles treated with a fire-resistant coating.
