The Top 5 Types Of Roofing Materials
There are plenty of roofing materials to choose from for your new roof. However, there are 5 that we see homeowners from all over the country gravitate towards, especially in the Nashville area.
Below youre going to learn a little about the types of roofing materials before moving on to figure out which one is right for you.
How To Choose Roofing Shingles For Your Type Of Roof Style
Weve given you a breakdown of common roof shapes, which also have a variety of sub-types that can be joined together in combination styles. Making the right shingle selection is up to you.
- Drive through neighborhoods, browse houses online, and look through magazines to find a roof style and color that reflects your dream house.
- Consider your neighborhood. Youll have the choice to blend into your surroundings or stand out it depends on your personality and exterior design goals.
- Additionally, there may be building codes or HOA restrictions that limit your options, so be sure to do your research before starting any project.
Owens Corning® roofing shingles can be used on all roof types, with limited exceptions to certain roof slopes. Use roof color and design tools from Owens Corning to see what your roof could look like in a variety of shingle styles and colors and help you coordinate the roof with your homes exterior.
Once youve found the look you want, talk to an experienced independent roofing contractor in the Owens Corning Contractor Network near you. They can help you with choosing the appropriate shingles for your roof design and provide you with an estimate along with roof financing opportunities.
What Is The Best Type Of Roofing Material For My Garage
There are a lot of options to mull over when redesigning a garage or building one from scratch. Theres the flooring, the garage door, the storage space, windows, etc. While the focus may be on the internal features of a garage, one of the most important decisions youll make in this project will actually be on the outsidethe roofing material.
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Roof Coveringmaterial: Solar Roof Tiles Or Solar Shingles
Solar roof tiles are known as solar shingles, arent only used as a roofing material but also generate electricity. Solar roof tiles or solar shingles are photovoltaic modules, and it produces electricity by landing sun. These tiles are commercially available in the request.
Usually, the price depends on the manufacturing company, specification, Installation, and also region.
Advantages of Solar Shingles
- They look like regular shingles and come in numerous sizes and styles they can round nearly any structure scenery.
- They exclude the need for a large installation area that traditional solar panels bear.
- Installation is simple and hassle-free.
- They can be combined with traditional shingles to cover large or complex roofs.
Disadvantages of Solar Shingles
- Solar shingles cannot store energy, and also they wont give power at night or during storms.
- The roof may be at the correct angle for the shingles to catch the sun.
- There must be sufficient face area to install solar shingles to collect enough light to produce electricity.
Best Roofing Materials For Homes 202: Material Costs Plus Pros & Cons
This comprehensive guide to roofing materials is all the research youll need to evaluate the top choices for residential re-roofing and new construction projects in 2022.
What to Expect: In this guide, well cover the following most common roofing options: asphalt shingles, cedar wood shingles and shakes, metal shingles and standing seam metal roofs, concrete, clay, and fiber-cement tiles, natural stone and faux slate/synthetic shingles, and the latest BiPV solar tile options.
For each material, we cover the following topics:
- An overview including how the roofing is made
- Pros and cons including maintenance, repair, durability, options, home styles they work with and more
- Cost for materials and installation
- Choosing your roofing material: The bottom line summaries of each type
- How to save money on a new roof
Read Also: How Much Does It Cost To Replace Roof On House
What Roofing Materials Last The Longest
If youre more worried about longevity than you are about price, then youll want to go with either slate, metal, or wood.
These roofing materials are incredibly long-lasting in the right conditions with the proper maintenance and care.
They will also significantly add to the value of your home.
If youre looking for a more affordable option, rubber roofing will be the way to go.
Though you wont have the same amount of value added to your home as the previously mentioned materials.
Types Of Roofing Materials & What Is Best For Your Roof
Trying to find the best types of roofing materials for your home?
A question we get asked a lot at First American is what different types of roofing are available? People come to us needing a new roof and are surprised to learn there are at least ten different types of roofing materials common in the U.S. alone.
The type of roofing we choose depends on many factors because not any roof can work on any home. Some roofs work best in hot climates down south, like clay or concrete tile, while others like green roofs fight air and noise pollution in big cities. So lets get into the different types and how they can benefit both residential or commercial properties.
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Clay Or Concrete Tiles
These tiles can look nice , but for a garage roof, clay or concrete might not be the best choice. The reason being is because of their sheer weight. Too much weight on a small structure like a garage can be dangerous. For the average homeowner, the garage isnt that large, so you might want to skip these options, even if they are fire-resistant and extremely durable. Perhaps consider using them elsewhere, like on your main housing structure.
Roof Coveringmaterial: Wood Shingles
Wood shingles are a thin timber board around 1 cm thick. They are generally thick in shape. The length and breadth of this board vary from 30 to 40 cm and6.5 cm to 25 cm singly. Shingles are not common paraphernalia for the roof covering as they are liable to decay or crack under the atmospheric goods.
This type of roof covering paraphernalia is mainly used in place of ducts or swaths and where its available in a wide range.
Advantages of Wood Shingles
- This type of roof covers visually appealing roof styles.
- Wood shingles have continuity and energy effectiveness.
- Advantage of wood shingles resistant to severe storms.
Disadvantages of Wood Shingles
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Wood Shingles & Cedar Shake
Pine, cedar, and redwood shingles can give your home a rustic and elegant look, but they are rather pricey. They require an expert installation team and can offer durability, however, their protection can be questionable depending on where you live.
The downside to these wood shingles is that moss and other materials can grow on them meaning maintenance and roof cleaning must occur. They are also expensive to take off if you ever change your mind on what type of roof you want!
Choose Something That Fits Your Needs
The primary function of your roof is to protect you and your home from various elements, but different types of roof materials have different advantages and disadvantages.
Naturally, you want to choose an option that provides the most protection possible while not sacrificing your home’s appearance. You also don’t want to spend a fortune on a roof, especially in cases where the roofing material requires lots of maintenance and repairs. Consider each of these roofing materials carefully before making a choice. One of the best is synthetic roofing, like that from CeDUR Roofing Shakes.
Read Also: How To Estimate The Cost Of A Metal Roof
The 9 Best Types Of Roofs
- When To Replace Your Roof
- DIY vs. Professional
Affiliate Disclosure: This Old Houses Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. To support this business model, This Old House may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website.
Most homeowners will need to replace their roof at some point. This is an expensive project, but a good quality roof has a lifespan of a few decades, making it a great investment in your home.
Our guide details the different types of roofing available, how much new roofs cost, and other essential information.
Different Types Of Roof Designs
Some roof designs, like a gable roof, are more common than the others such as a mansard roof for example. When building a house, one of the things you have to decide is what type of roof design will suit it. A roof design will not just depend on your preference but also on the places temperature and weather condition. There are hundreds of types of roof designs that exist today for example:
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How Much Does Replacing A Roof Cost
The cost of a roof replacement can vary widely. The three main factors it depends on are the type of roofing material you choose, the price of labor, and the size and shape of your roof. The average cost of a roof replacement nationwide is $8,314. The typical cost range is between roughly $5,500 and $11,000.
- 01 of 12 Imagesines / Getty Images
- Average cost of rolled roofing: $1.50 to $2.00 per square foot
Rolled roofing material is the mainstay of low-slope residential roofs as well as outbuildings like shops, sheds, and other utilitarian structures. Rolled roofing consists of long rolls of mineral-impregnated and asphalt-impregnated material topped with mineral granules. Each roll is about 100 square feet of roofing and about 3 feet wide.
Rolled roofing is one of the cheapest roofing materials, but it doesn’t offer much aesthetic value. The large, thin strips offer a fast and convenient way to cover a sloped-roof building like a workshop where appearances aren’t important. It can be applied either with the torch-down method or with roofing nails.
On average, rolled roofing lasts about 5 to 8 years before it needs to be replaced.
Built-up roofing is one of the oldest types of roofing materials for flat roofs or low-pitch roofs. BUR systems are constructed with several layers of roofing felt impregnated with asphalt that is applied hot.
The Spruce / Lee Wallender
Be Careful What You Wash Your Rubber Rv Roof With
A few months ago we had a customer schedule an appointment for their 2015 Grand Design Solitude 305RE to have a roof coating completed. Upon inspection, we found that the roof membrane was sticky and tackywe could rub the membrane with our finger and the membrane would simply wipe away. Obviously, we were unable to complete a roof coating on a roof membrane that we suspected was damaged by chemicals. We advised the customer to contact their insurance provider to submit a claim as the only fix is to replace the roof.
This customer lives in their unit full-time. Curious as to what caused this chemical damage, we asked if they utilize truck washes. The customer explained that they typically pay cash to whoever in the RV campground washes units onsite.
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How To Save Money And Get A Great Roof
If saving money were the goal, then hiring the cheapest labor would be the path to accomplishing it. However, that will likely turn out to be a mistake discovered when the roof falls apart or fails to protect your home from the elements.
The better route is to request estimates from several licensed and insured roofing contractors that specialize in the type of roof you want. Let them know that they are competing with other companies for the project. Then, get some references, drive by homes they roofed from 5-15 years ago to see how the roofs theyve installed are holding up.
Pro Tip: Inquire about the experience of the crew that will be installing your roof.
This is the most complete overview of these materials and their costs that youll find anywhere. If you have comments, questions, or costs to submit, we invite you to join the conversation by leaving a reply. If the information was helpful, please share it on social media since every homeowner will need a new roof sooner or later!
Roofing Materials Commonly Used In Buildings
A roof system consists of various types of materials that are interconnected in order to provide weatherproof protection in buildings. In addition to being waterproof, roofs help protect buildings from the sun, rain, snow, and other elements.
Roofing materials vary depending on the shape of the roof, location and climate, and whether the use is for residential or commercial. Asphalt shingles are popular for residential use as they are fairly inexpensive and have a good lifespan. In commercial construction where flat roofs are more common, metal, EPDM, and built-up roofs are extensively used.
A wide variety of roof coverings exist today, each with its own advantages depending on the use. The most common roofing materials available include asphalt, wood, metal, clay, cement and slate, glass and plastic, and plastic liquid coatings.
1. Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are die-cut from heavy sheets of asphalt-impregnated felt faced with mineral granules that act a a wearing layer and decorative finish.
The most common type of asphalt shingle, used predominently in residential roof construction throught the United States, is 12 inches by 36 inches in size.
Typically, asphalt shingles are slotted twice along their width in order to make them appear as if they are three smaller shingles. This gives the roof a finer visual scale when it is finished.
2. Wood Shingles
3. Metal Roofs
4. Clay Tiles
5. Cement Tiles
6. Slate Tiles
7. Glass and Plastic
8. Built-Up Bituminous Roofing
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Slate Roofing: Most Durable
Natural slate roofs are some of the most costly yet long-lasting and durable roofing options for any homeowner. Slate is a fairly dense material and requires solid roof decking and underlayments for a successful installation.
Slate is one of the most durable roofing materials, as it provides class A fire resistance, holds up very well to wind and rain over time, and is resistant to mold and fungus. Among other types of roofing material, slate tiles stand out as one of the most labor-intensive options available. In almost all cases, hiring a roofing contractor will be a necessary step toward successful installation. That said, slate roofs offer great curb appeal many composite shingle manufacturers make products to mimic the great look of slate tiles.
Pros and Cons
- Typically does not come with a manufacturer warranty due to it being a natural product
Cost of Slate Roofing Materials
- Materials: $10 to $22 per square foot
- Labor: $6 to $10 per square foot
- Total: $16 to $32 per square foot
Lifespan
Slate roofs are extremely durable and long-lasting, with lifespans of at least 50 to 75 years, but can last up to 200 years. Hard slate typically lasts much longer than soft slate, which has an average lifespan of 50-125 years.
Popular Roofing Materials For Residential Properties
Author: Jason Bradley
Take a quick walk around town, and youre bound to see different types of roofs. Homeowners can choose what type of roofing material they want to use to keep their home safe from the harsh elements. There are many types of residential roofing materials available, but these four are the most popular of the bunch.
1. Asphalt Shingles
Easily the most popular roofing material, asphalt shingles consist of small, uniformly sized shingles that feature a top layer of asphalt embedded in several layers of adhesive and felt. Newer versions of asphalt shingles may replace the felt base with fiberglass sheets. Affordable, immune to water damage and fairly low-maintenance, asphalt shingles are considered a good jack of all trades.
2. Metal
Metal roofs may not be the current favorite in North America, but its quite popular among homeowners living in the warmer regions of the globe. Metals main appeal is its ability to reflect and shed a large amount of heat faster than any other roofing material. Metal roofing is usually installed in the form of large panels, and basic roof repair for metal roofs usually involves patching holes with waterproof sealant instead of replacing entire panels. Practical and unbelievably tough, metal roofs are gaining more popularity these days.
3. Clay
4. Slate
We can tell you all about these materials and more, and how you should maintain them to make your residential roof replacement last longer.
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Common Metal Roofing Materials
Metal roofing is typically made from recycled and recyclable materials. This makes metal roofing a sustainable option in addition to being extremely durable and long-lasting. You can feel good about choosing a metal roof, knowing youve made an environmentally-friendly choice thats worth the cost.
Here are a few of the most common types of metal roofing materials and their pros and cons.
Standing Seam Metal Roof
While there are two types of metal roofs, a standing seam metal roof is recommended for residential roofing.
A standing seam metal roof system is a series of metal panels that are locked together at the seams or seamed mechanically. This allows for the metal panels to expand and contract freely when the metal heats up.
While not as common as asphalt, standing seam metal roofing is becoming more and more popular in the roofing industry. However, itll be two to three times more expensive than an asphalt shingle roof.
The great thing about a metal roof is that its a versatile material. While you can get it as a full roof system, homeowners also add a standing seam metal roof accent to their asphalt roof replacement for a covered porch, dormers, flat roof facets, and more.
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