Common Roofing Material - What's Your Roof Made Of?

The roofs which form the crown and cover of your house can be made of various things. Different home owners have different considerations when they plan for their roofs. It can be aesthetics, durability or expense. If it is aesthetics, shingles and tiles and other materials of many colors and styles are available in the market. You can choose them to cater to your taste.

Expense and durability are serious matters. You may or may not want to compromise one for the other. Whatever the case is, a deep and elaborate assessment is needed. You can have a roofing material that is most economic, in the sense, cheap and comparatively durable. Some materials may entail a higher upfront expense but will be maintenance free for a long time and will have longer serviceable life.

• Slate Roof

Slate roofs are considered to be the roofs with the longest functional life. They would last even a century. Besides, being a material straight from the nature, slate has its own charming color. So it can satisfy the aesthetics of the homeowner. It is environment friendly and fire resistant.

However, the installation of the slate roof is rather difficult. Moreover, slate is fragile and it can be broken easily and any work on the roof will be difficult. The weight of the material is another con of the slate roof.

• Clay Tile Roof

Clay tiles are another natural roof materials. These are made of locally available clay and baked in a kiln. They are available in many colors. The clay tiles are usually hung from horizontal bars in the framework of the roof. This roof also has an operative life of about 100 years. The clay tile will not decay like the wood, or curl or buckle like the asphalt. They are fire resistant and helps make your house energy efficient. Clay is also environment friendly.

The disadvantage is that they crack easily if something falls on them or you try to walk on them. It may also crack with advancing age. They should be coated with a primer in order to avoid moss formation.

• Metal roof

Metal roofs are also very durable and maintenance free for a long while, since it has a life of 30 – 50 years. Even if the initial cost runs a bit high, if you can afford it, it has several benefits. The weight of the material is a great advantage. This helps in reroofing without tearing off the existing roof. It is fire resistant and heat resistant. The sun’s heat will be reflected off the roof and the heat inside your house is controlled to a great extent. It is a material least affected by rain. When considered in an aesthetic point of view, you can select your favorite colors and arrange them aesthetically.

However, on the down side, its installation costs are high. The metal roof will not crack or curl but dent and it needs wary walking. If you happen to use low quality material the paint may peel off making the roof highly unattractive. The sound produced on the roof by rain or hailstorm can be harrowing. It sure is fire resistant but in case of a fire inside the house, the rescue operation can be hindered by the extremely hot roof.

• Wood Shingle Roof

The wood shingles are made from straight grained knot-free wood. White oak, black locust, yellow poplar, red wood, rock elm and cedar are some of the common timbers used in wood shingles. These shingles are often subjected to an oil treatment to prolong its life. It has a life span of 30-40 years. Wood shingles are highly efficient energy savers.

The greatest disadvantage of the wood shingles is that it needs constant caring. If it retains debris or puddles it may rot due to moss formation. It is not fire resistant.

• Wood Shake Shingle Roof

Wood shake shingles are thicker than the wood shingles. They are usually split from the logs. Sometimes the upper side is sawn for aesthetic purposes. The wood shake shingle roofs also have a life of 30 -40 years.

The disadvantages of the wood shingles also apply to the wood shake shingles, even though they are stronger than the wood shingles.

• Composition Shingle Roof

The composition is made by coating the fiberglass reinforcement with mineral fillers and then asphalt. The top surface is then embedded with ceramic granules. There are different types of composition, the 3-tab shingles, laminated shingles and architectural shingles. The 3-tab shingles are sturdier and costlier. The laminated one, as the name suggests, have extra features which make it more expensive. The architectural shingles are very thick and robust and hence the costliest.

This roof has a life span between 15 –to 50 years depending on the maintenance, climatic conditions etc. This roof is easy to maintain and comparatively affordable to common man.

However, the moss formation can spoil it anytime and hence requires constant checking. They may lose granules in a particularly strong rain or hurricane. Curling and buckling also occurs with age.

• Asphalt Roll Roof

This is a roofing material which is not advisable for house roofing. However, you can use it for roofing your shed. It is a fiberglass mat coated with asphalt and finished off with granular stone aggregate. This can be DIY affair and so it is an inexpensive installation.

This is a light weight material but too light for house roofing. The roof life is too short and the life span cannot be much prolonged with maintenance. Moreover, it is suitable only for a low slopped pitch.

Selecting a roofing material is a tough job as it needs a lot of research on the material, its durability, installation cost and ultimately attractiveness.

The Roofing Company

5635 State road 54

New Port Richey, FL 34652

727.916-3151

https://www.tampabayroofs.com

Scott Jack is Guest blogger And digital marketing expert. Also, loves music, travelling, adventure, family and friends.