When deciding on what type of roofing you need, you’ll have to decide what type of shingles you want, how much you’re willing to spend, and if you want to do it yourself or would rather hire it out. Here are a few other things to think about when you’re redoing your roof.
What are the different types of roofing?
There are a lot of types to choose from, and your location can help you pick which ones to go with. If you live in warmer climates that don’t have a lot of tornadoes, hurricanes, or heavy rains you can get away with clay tiles or wood shingles. When living in harsher weather climates, you should consider metal or asphalt shingles. Another option is rolled roofing, this type is a staple for low-slope residential roofs, as well as out-buildings such as sheds, shops, or other utilitarian buildings.
Asphalt Roof
Asphalt composite shingles are the most popular option for roofing. Made from a fiberglass bottom, topped off with asphalt and mineral granulates. They come with a 20-30 year warranty, and replacing a few shingles is one of the easiest processes. Asphalt shingles are also the most customizable option.
Clay Tile Roof
Clay tiles are made from earth clays, molded into interlocking shapes, and baked for hardness. They are most likely left unglazed, but you can have the option of getting them glazed and fired to form ceramic roofing tiles. Living in hot climates, clay is a great option to help keep your home cool, and prevent your roof from peeling off of your home.
Wood Shingle Roof
Wood shingles or shakes look fantastic, but can be very expensive, and have certain limitations. They aren’t very long-lasting and aren’t the best option if you live in climates with heavy precipitation or wildfire zones. With those factors in mind, wood shingles/shakes are used typically for luxury homes, not your average, everyday home.
Metal Roof
Metal roofing is a popular option in climates with harsh winters and heavy snowfall, or areas popular with wildfires. This option is safe for both, having watertight seals, and is the only roofing material that is completely fireproof. Metal roofs are long-lasting and can be fully recycled when it comes time to replace them. When wanting a metal roof, it’s best to fully consult roofing companies before you commit to it, not all companies are equipped with the skills to do the job.
Rolled Roof
Rolled roofing is made from long rolls of mineral asphalt material mixed with mineral granules, each one is about 100 square feet of roofing, about 3 feet wide. It is a fast, inexpensive, convenient, thin roofing material to cover buildings where you aren’t worried about appearance. The material is applied by torch-down methods or with roofing nails.
How to Choose the Right Roof Material for your Home
After looking at the many options for roofing, now it’s time to pick out which one will best fit your home. With color options available in most of the materials, it’s easy to customize the color to match the exterior color of your home or even your driveway. Depending on if you have other buildings on your property that you want to have the roofs re-done, you can decide if you want them all to look the same, or change it up for them to be accommodated to each building type.
When you make your final decision, you can start buying up the materials you’ll need to get your roof done. If you’d rather hire someone to do the job for you, get in touch with a professional. Do some research before you hire someone, look at reviews, and ask around town for recommendations. After you’ve made the decision to DIY or hire it out, you can start customizing the color you want for your roof. Make sure it’s a color you’ll love for years!
