Roofing Options

If you are building a new home, renovating an existing home, or even simply repairing an existing roof, you will need to choose what type of material you want to have on your roof. Before you make your final decision you need to consider all your options. There are several roofing options that you can choose from, and the more common ones are listed below. Use this information to help you make your decision about what you would like your roof to be made from.

• Asphalt shingles. These shingles are probably one of the more commonly used roofing materials out there, in large part because of their many benefits. These benefits include things such as they are lightweight, usually carry fire ratings, won't break when walked on, and are fairly low maintenance. While there are many benefits, there is always at least one drawback, which in this case are also fairly simple. These kinds of shingles can blow off the roof during wind storms, absorb heat like a sponge, and can become discolored over time.
• Clay and concrete tiles. Clay and concrete tiles are common choices in roofing materials in the warmer climates. The reason for this is that the clay and concrete can last for a very long time in the high heat, won't burn or rot in the heat, and can add a nice touch of Southwestern or Mediterranean elegance to your home. There is one major drawback to this kind of roofing material, its weight. It is common to have a roof need to be reinforced when using this kind of roofing material. Another common drawback is that the tiles can break if you walk on them wrong.
• Metal roofs. Metal roofs are usually made from aluminum or a coated steel material. These types of roofs can be extremely energy efficient, fire retardant, virtually maintenance free, and are very durable. In addition, they can be formed to look like just about anything. However, even though they are virtually maintenance free, they are very expensive and often need specialized training to install.
• Wood shingles. For the longest time, wood shingles was the single most popular choice in roofing materials around, and it can still be a viable option for use today. These types of shingles are most commonly made from woods such as redwood, cedar, and southern pine. These types of roofing materials typically will last, with the proper maintenance, for about 25 years before they need to be replaced. However, there is something of a drawback though. They usually need to be treated with a special fire retardant to be used as roofing materials, and even then the building codes in some areas will not allow you to use them for your roof.
• Slate. Slate roofing shingles are basically large pieces of thin rock that you can apply to your roof in the same way that asphalt shingles are. It may not be very surprising, but this is perhaps the most durable of all the roofing materials that you could use, though they can be very expensive, heavy and even delicate. Use caution when installing these on your roof due to the added weight.