Choosing Suitable House Roofing Materials

Roofing Materials - Having a bit of trouble in coming up with a cost-effective house design?

Well here are a few tips to help get you get started on building your roof.

This page covers most of the things you need to know on roofing materials

You will find out which ones goes best with your house project and the way to pick the suitable materials from the large variety of similar products currently on the market.

Even though most home owners dream at a roof that would last forever, cost little money and requires insignificant maintenance, the sad truth is that most roofs wear off in about ten years and need to be repaired or replaced.

Fortunately, by choosing the right type of materials this can be prevented.

List of Roofing Material

Here is a listing of available roofing materials along with their positive and negative features.

Asphalt Shingles

We will start with asphalt shingles, which are currently used in more than 90% of the newly developed residential projects.

These are the least expensive materials, but also the ones that last the least.

Sheet Metal

Up next sheet metal, cement tiles, wood shakes or shingles, traditional slate or ceramic tiles are also quite popular and rate above the asphalt shingles.

For low-slope roofs, high-tech polymer membranes can be used, compete with asphalt roll roofing, coal tar, and asphalt-mop technologies.

Shingles

Composition shingles have plenty of positive attributes: they are versatile, easy to install and come in a variety of colors.

There are even those made from recycled materials.

The down-side is that they can be easily damaged when exposed to high winds or powerful heat, even though some of them come with a fire protection. Also, their design lacks the dimensional look of tiles or shakes.

Wood Shakes

Wood shakes are environmentally friendly and allow the air to circle, maintaining a fresh atmosphere throughout the house.

But wood does not get along fine with insects and it ranks lower compared to other roofing materials in matters of longevity. In order to have a long life, it needs constant maintenance and repair.

Fire is also an issue with wood shakes, even though recently the materials are pressure treated in order to last longer and meet the fire safety standards.

Clay Roofing Tile

Next off, we have the clay roofing tile, a good material when it comes to its lifespan.

Unlike wood, clay tiles can not rot burn or be affected by insects. These are very popular in Spain or Italy and come in a variety of colors, brands and styles.

Slate

Slate ranks high in diversity, fire protection and life duration, but very low when it comes to acquisition costs.

Concrete tiles

Concrete tiles are becoming more popular lately due to their lifespan.

Manufactured from a variety of fiber-reinforced cement products, they last longer and look better than they used to a few years ago.

Metal Roofs

Metal roofs, used centuries ago for buildings such as Washington Monument and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello are considered “contemporary” once again.

By choosing the right materials, you can increase the life of your roof, reduce your costs on the long run and indirectly contribute to other environmental benefits.

How To Install Roll Roofing

Flat Roof Materials

How To Install Metal Roofing

Metal Roof Materials