Different Types of Roofing Materials for Your Home
If you are planning to build a new home or are doing a house renovation job which involves changing your roofing, there are several options for you when it comes to roofing materials. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages that you should know about to make an educated choice.
Asphalt Shingles – Also known as composite shingles, it is one of the most popular roofing in many homes. It is made of fiberglass mat with asphalt and mineral granules topping. It is very affordable; however, they don’t last very long.
Metal Roofing – Metal roofing is not just for warehouses. In fact, it is gaining in popularity in many homes now. Metal is an excellent roofing material because it is resistant to fire, highly durable, can withstand all types of weather condition, is resistant to wood-boring insects, and can last long. These qualities also make metal roofs more expensive than other types of roofing and need to be installed by professional installers.
Copper Roofing – Copper is a unique type of material that is now being used for roofing. It can give your home exterior a unique appearance because of its color. But it is not a very cheap option.
Aluminum Roofing – Aluminum is an inexpensive material for roofing although you can rarely see it being used in the entire house. Most people use it as roofing in some areas of the house like the garage.
Slate Roofing – Slate roofing makes a beautiful decorative roof for your home because of its nice color. It is popular in some European countries like France. Slate is real stone and it is highly durable, fireproof, and can last long. And like any other excellent roofing material, slate roofing is not very cheap and it also requires professional installer.
Solar Panel Roofing – Because of the increasing cost of energy and the worsening effect of global warming, solar panel roofing is becoming a good choice for many homes that have access to natural sunlight. Solar panels can be installed on top of the entire roofing of your home. Although it requires a significant amount of investment to install, its long-term benefit usually surpasses its initial cost.
Green Roof – Apart from solar panel roofing, green roof is another option for green home. This type of roofing is designed so that plants can grow on your roof. Additionally, it can also provide your home with a good thermal insulation. It can be pricey to install but it has a lasting effect to your home and to the environment.
Plastic Roofing – Plastic as a roofing material is now one of the newest addition in roofing materials. The possibility of using it in the entire house is still being explored right now. But currently, it is popularly used in some portions of the home like the porch. This is not a green option unless the plastic materials used are those recycled ones.
Clay Tiles – Clay tiles roofing is very common in the Southwest where it is used for ranch style homes. It has the terracotta color which can add a decorative look to your home exterior.
Rolled roofing – Rolled roofing is very common among residential roofs with a low slope. This type of roofing comes in 100-square-feet rolls with about a 3-foot width. The use of rolled roofing is perhaps the fastest way to roof a house. It is good at holding moisture and it is very cheap. But if you are looking for beauty, this option might not be for you.
By weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each type of roofing material, you can now make a choice depending on your budget, preferences and style.