Time For a New Roof? Consider One of These Roofing Materials

When buying a home, the type of roofing material is an important consideration. So when looking a homes roof, it’s completely natural for a roof to wear down over time and need replacing. How long the roof’s lifespan is depends on what material it was made from, and some materials hold up better than others. Most homes use shingles that will last approximately 20-25 years. When it’s time to replace a roof, homeowners have a choice to make. Will they replace it with the same type of roof they’ve always had, or will they choose a new material? There are many different types of roofs out there, and they each have different advantages and fit different aesthetics. Here are some of the different types of roofing materials homeowners can choose from.

Composition and Asphalt Shingles

Sometimes, it’s best to keep using what works, and DIY asphalt shingles, also known as composition shingles, are the most common type around. These are the basic black or dark gray, flat, rectangular shingles that can be seen on many homes. Their durability is one of the shortest of the bunch, but even still, they can easily last 20 years or even longer. Asphalt shingles are popular because they’re relatively inexpensive and just about every roofer knows how to install them. For a homeowner who isn’t picky about their roof, asphalt shingles can be a good choice.

Wood Shingles

Before asphalt shingles were invented, wooden shingles used to be the go-to for most homeowners. Now, they’re more difficult to find in use on modern homes, but they still offer advantages over their new asphalt counterparts. For instance, in dry climates, wooden shingles can last up to 50 years, more than double the estimated lifespan of asphalt. They can also be treated to be fire resistant if homeowners are concerned about the wood being a fire hazard. However, wood shingles are more expensive than asphalt, and they aren’t well suited to wet climates due to the nature of wood.

Metal Panels and Tiles

Metal is primarily used for roofs on commercial buildings or on barns, but in recent years, manufacturers have started making metal tiles with residential living in mind. Metal tiles can be made to look like shingles made of wood or other materials, so Williamstown homeowners can have the best of both worlds: the durability of metal and the look of their favorite styles. Homeowners who want to use metal tiles need to be prepared for a large price tag, however. On top of being expensive, metal tiles also have a tendency to trap leaves and will require regular cleaning, which is an additional expense if the homeowner doesn’t want to clean it themselves.

Slate

Slate roofs are a unique option because they aren’t installed like other more common roofing materials. Instead of being nailed or glued down, the pieces of slate actually hang off of protruding nails and are kept in place by gravity. Roofs that use slate sheets are typically extremely steep because of this. Slate is an eco-friendly roofing option because so long as the slate isn’t cracked or broken, it can be taken and reused on new roofs until it can no longer function. And when that happens, there’s no risk of it ending up in a landfill because it’s just rock. However, slate is a very expensive option, and in order to use it, homeowners may need to change the shape of their roof, so homeowners need to know that going forward.

These are just some of the many great options for roofs that homeowners can choose for their home. For more information about advantages and disadvantages of the different materials and help select the best one for every home.