7 Pros of the Most Common Residential Roofing Materials
When we shop for roofing materials for our house, we usually take care only of the material we choose to install, not stopping for one second to think about its characteristics.
If we need a durable roof, we will simply choose any type of metallic roofs, without enquiring how well it withstands wind gushes or long exposure to direct sunlight.
If you made a list of pros the material ideal for the location of your house needed to possess, you would fare much better shopping for roofing.
The Color Palette
If you already have several other buildings that you want to match the color of the roof, then asphalt roofs are your number one option. Because they are made from an asphalt mixture that can be dyed in the process, they are sold in a countless number of colors.
They are also a neat solution for people who wish to match the color of the roof to the paint on the garage doors or the window shutters.
The only bad side to asphalt roofing is that it doesn’t last very long, some two decades on average, but this is made up by its affordable price.
A Rustic Look
If you want your urban home to look like a countryside cottage, then wood shingles are the thing for you. They might not react well to humid weather but their outside appearance makes up for this structural flaw.
Homeowners choose them because they fancy the weatherworn looks that they get after just a couple of years after installation. Wood shingles go grey over time, thus making the house appear vintage and charming.
Longevity
If you are not into the outside appearance of the roof, then you should opt for roofs made from metal. This material boasts the longest lifespan of the most common materials used for roofing.
While a wooden roof will need replacing after a quarter of a century, metal roofing lasts at least twice as long. On average, the lifespan of a metal roof is anywhere between 50 up to 75 years, depending on the level of maintenance. And that’s not all, as a metal roof is durable as well.
Durability
Part of the metal roofing’s secret to longevity lies in its sturdy construction. They are made from a strong material, such as copper or lead, that can withstand the strongest of gales, if it’s properly bolted down.
Roofs are battered by hail and have to withstand the weight of heavy snowfall during winter time, so no wonder metal is the best material. It might not be a great insulator but it does not lack structural strength.
Exposure to the Sun
Apart from wet and cold weather, a roof needs to fare well in situations of exposure to extreme heat. This is where metal roofs come to the top once more as their surface actively reflect sun rays back.
With proper insulation underneath the roof, this means that you will be cool inside the house during summer.
For an extra perk, you can use the next complete roof restoration to install solar panels on the roof to harness the energy of the sun to your own benefit.
Preventing House Fires
The types of roofing we discussed so far would not fare well in a fire, so slated roofs are the best fireproof option. This is because of their heavy weight which guarantees they won’t fall apart easily, not even in the middle of a fiery inferno.
They require a strong supporting structure that needs to be made from wood and metal nailed and bolted together.
- Also See: How to Create an Energy Efficient House
Protecting the Environment
A slated roof, i.e. the material it is made from, has one more trick up its sleeve, not to say rafter. Slated roofs are made from recyclable materials, which means that an entirely new slated roof will not leave a big environmental print.
On the other hands, this means that they are the most expensive roofing solution of all that we have discussed so far.
Wrap Up
Having listed the seven pros of the most common roofing solutions (and materials) one thing becomes obvious. Like we stated in the introduction, you should not shop according to a specific material but its traits that will best fit your residential roof.
Local weather conditions, the shape of the roof and the regional climate all play a major role in deciding what you should look for in the desired type of roofing.
