Roofing sounds exciting and may be on top of your to-do lists while building or remodeling your home. Though the perspiration hits home when the roof develops a crack or starts outright leaking, this may cause discouragement in your behaviour at the thought of this.
On the other hand, the prospect of having a dry, tightly sealed house may start to seem appealing. A beautiful new roof can also improve the appeal of your house around the curb.
There are a lot of roofing materials to choose from, and a bit of research could possibly aid you in considering a new roof material for roof installation rather than replacing the same material you have. Choosing the right roofing material requires considering several factors – longevity, quality or cost, cost, structural issues, approval from authorities, and appearance.
Do not fret; here we have combined 12 roofing materials to choose from.
1. Rolled roofing
Low-slope residential roofs, as well as outbuildings like shops, sheds, and other utilitarian structures, primarily use rolled roofing material. Long rolls of material impregnated with asphalt and minerals and covered with mineral granules make up rolled roofing. About 100 square feet of roofing are contained in each roll, which is 3 feet wide.
These broad, thin roofing material strips provide a quick, practical, and affordable way to cover a sloped-roof building, such as a workshop, where aesthetics are not crucial. Roofing nails or the torch-down method can be used to install rolled roofing.
Costing between $1.50 and $2.50 per square foot to install, rolled roofing is reasonably priced. The typical lifespan of rolled roofing is 10 years before it needs to be replaced.
2. Asphalt Composite Shingles
Asphalt composite shingles are the most widely used roofing material. These three-tab shingles are an excellent option for the majority of home roofing needs since they have a fibreglass base and are covered in asphalt and mineral granules. They normally come with a 20- to 30-year warranty, and it is not too difficult to replace just one damaged shingle. Almost all roofing companies are adept with installing these singles. Composite shingles are excellent in bending and adapting to a roof’s expansion and contraction movements.
The roof’s lifespan might be anywhere from 12 to over 30years, depending on the shingles’ quality and environmental factors.
3. Standing Seam Metal roofing
The standing seam roof, which is the most popular style of metal roof, gets its name from the elevated seams that connect the aluminium or steel roofing panels to keep moisture out. Since metal is a completely fireproof roofing material, metal roofs of all kinds are becoming more and more common in areas with heavy snowfall or where there is a noticeable risk of wildfires or the fear of arson.
When they eventually do wear out, metal roofs have a very long lifespan and are completely recyclable. However, installing a standing seam metal roof needs specialised knowledge, and not all roofing companies are equipped to do so.
The average price per square foot, installed, ranges from $6 to $12. Most metal roofs survive between 30 and 50 years, however some have been known to last up to 75 years.
4. Metal Shingles/Shakes
For homeowners who do not prefer the previous type, standing seam metal roofing, but would like to reap the advantages of metal, there are steel or aluminium shingles or shakes which are now available. Metal shingles can be created to closely resemble conventional asphalt shingles, timber shakes, even slate or clay tiles. They are made from stamped metal and coated with either a high-quality baked-on coating or mineral granules. They are a great option when aesthetics are a top priority.
Installed prices for metal shingle roofs typically range from $7 to $10 per square foot. They have a 30- to 50-year lifespan.
5. Wood Shingle or Shakes
Despite their restrictions and high cost, wood roofs are incredibly appealing. They do not survive for long, and they are not a wise decision in places with a lot of rainfall or where wildfires could ignite. However, they are among the most aesthetically pleasing of any roofing materials, which makes them a well-liked option for luxury homes.
There is a distinction between wood shakes and shingles despite the fact that both are manufactured from natural wood, often redwood or cedar (often seen on Cape Cod-style homes). Typically, thin, wedge-shaped slabs of wood are sawed precisely to form shingles. Shakes are thicker wedges with a rougher texture that are made by splitting wood.
Shakes are more expensive, with average expenditures of $6.50 to $14 per square foot, whereas shingles normally cost around $4.50 to $9 per square foot. Conditions and care have a big impact on longevity. A wood shingle or shake roof can last 60 years in an area that is typically dry; in wetter areas, the roof may only last 20 to 30 years.
6. Clay Tile
Earthen clays are shaped into rolling or interlocking shapes, then burnt to make them rigid. It can either be burnt or glazed to produce ceramic roofing tiles, which are frequently left unglazed and have a distinctive reddish-orange color. Clay tile makes an excellent roofing material for hot temperatures or areas with salt air, which explains why southern coastal areas and desert areas frequently have these roofs installed.
Although more unusual ceramic tiles can cost up to $30 per square foot, installed tile is an expensive roofing material with expenses that can range from $10 to $18 per square foot. A roofing material made of clay tile can persist for more than a century (100 years).
7. Concrete Tile
An alternative to clay tile that offers similar benefits and installation methods is concrete tile. Concrete tiles are made by molding regular sand-mix concrete into the desired shapes and colors. There are several different form options, some of which imitate rolling clay tiles and others of which are low-profile and resemble wood shakes. An ornamental coating may be used to finish concrete tile. It is an excellent option for high-wind areas because it is a fairly heavy roofing material.
Costs are normally between $10 and $15 per square foot, which is about a third cheaper than clay tile. The average lifespan is 50 years or more.
8. Slate Shingles
The choice for the homeowner who will take nothing less than the best is a slate roof, which is arguably the most gorgeous roofing material there can be. Slate roofing dating back centuries are still in good condition. Slate is made from genuine, thin slabs of actual stone is pretty self-explanatory. It is perfect for roofing since it tends to cleave off in thin sheets and is simple to quarry. Slate installation, however, requires a highly specific skill set, making it challenging to find trained fitters.
Including installation, slate roofs typically cost between $9 and $12 per square foot. A slate tile roof, on the other hand of the cost, often lasts 75 to 200 years, making it quite likely the last roofing you will ever install.
9. Synthetic (Rubber) Slate Tile
Synthetic slate shingles are, surprisingly, an effective substitute for natural slate, however they are made out of recycled plastic and rubber along with synthetic polymers. It could be quite difficult to tell this manufactured roofing from natural slate from the ground. Additionally, since synthetic slate is so light, it is a good alternative for homes that cannot sustain the pressure of actual slate.
Depending on installation, synthetic slate roofing typically costs $3 to $6. Synthetic slate typically comes with a very excellent warranty—up to 50 years—despite not being as long-lasting as genuine stone.
10. Membrane roofing
Flat or very low-pitch roofs have another choice which is membrane roofing. Membrane roofs can be made out of several materials, including but not limited to:
- Neoprene (polychloroprene)
- EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer)
- PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
- Chlorinated polyethylene and chlorosulfonated polyethylene sheets
- Polymer-modified bitumens
EPDM is one of the greatest membranes. Rubber roofing is another name for EPDM, a synthetic roofing material. Such that it is laid in broad sheets, reducing the number of seams where water might seep in, it is comparable to rolled asphalt roofing.
A membrane roof can be installed for $4 to $8 per square foot. If the roof is properly maintained, its lifespan ranges from 20 to 35 years.
Our Recommendation
We recommend that you give us a call and you let us know what you need. Based on that we will help you find the material that fits you and your home.