Roofing Materials
There are many types of roofing materials available and the choice you make on the type for your home depends on the quality, durability and advantages offered by such materials to your home's structure.
So, what are the different types of roofing materials available? Here's a look at what these might be:
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles type of roofing material suits almost every home type. Asphalt shingles are available in different colors and types and the biggest advantage to users is it's low-cost and easy to repair feature. Asphalt is also a material that's resistant to fire. Now the downside on using this material type is that it is not very environmentally friendly. Asphalt gets affected by mildew and moss and as a result it won't last for too long (15 to 20 years).
Wood Shingles
Wood shingles type of roofing material suits historic homes. Wood is easy to maintain and repair, and offer good insulation. If well-maintained, wood shingles can last for up to 50 years. The down factor here is that wood is not fire resistant. Unless the material is pressure treated, it can get spoiled due to mildew. Wood shingles is also one of the expensive types.
Metal Roof
Metal roof suits almost every home and offer many advantages such as low-cost, easy to maintain, and durability. Metal roof is unaffected by wind, rain or hail storms. Metal roof can last long for as much as 40 years if well-maintained. The only issue is the cost factor as it tends to be expensive.
Tiles
This roofing material gives a different and unique European style look to the home. Advantages are durability, easy maintenance, fire resistance and availability in a variety of style and color. However, care needs to be taken during maintenance activities. For example, walking on the tiles to check on the roofing can cause them to break. It is a bit difficult to install and repair as well.
Slate
Slate gives your home a unique style and is especially suited for historical home styles. This roofing material is easy to maintain, lightweight, durable and resistant to fire, but it is on the expensive side.
Engineered Rubber or plastic
Engineered rubber or plastic is the newest roofing material in the market. It has a lot of attractive featured such as durability, lightweight and mostly importantly low cost. It is made from reclaimed materials and is available in a variety of styles and color, so lots of choices for those who want to use it. It can last for about 30 to 60 years, if well-maintained.
