MEET MARIA
If you are planning on replacing your home’s roof in the near future, then you will need to spend some time researching all of your different options for roofing materials. Each material has its own pros and cons, and you want to be sure that you make the best choice for your budget and climate.
Asphalt Shingles
When it comes to residential roofing, asphalt shingles continue to be the most popular option throughout the country. In addition to being relatively inexpensive, those shingles are also exceptionally durable. With the proper maintenance, asphalt shingles will often last for decades, and you can easily replace broken shingles without damaging the rest of the roof. Asphalt shingles tend to be one of the most affordable options as well, and you could end up saving quite a bit of money with this material.
Metal Panels
One of the reasons why many homeowners are now switching over to steel and aluminum roofs is because those materials are very durable. With the proper maintenance, a metal roof could last for well over 50 years. As an added bonus, metal roofs are also incredibly light, and that means you won’t have to make any major changes to the structure of your home. In some cases, contractors can put metal panels directly over the shingles that are already there.
Clay Tiles
Clay tiles are energy efficient and very attractive, but that type of material is also quite heavy. Unless you already have clay tiles on your roof, you will most likely need to have additional supports installed. Luckily, your clay tiles could easily last for 40 or 50 years as long as you don’t live in an area that regularly gets heavy storms. Large hailstones can easily damage clay tiles, and replacing those tiles could be very expensive.
Wood Shingles
Cedar and redwood shingles can be eye-catching, but there are quite a few reasons why they aren’t very popular anymore. In some areas, using wood shingles for a roof is illegal because they are considered to be a fire hazard. That being said, you can buy Class A fire-rated wood roofing, but that material is going to be pricey. You will need to research all local building codes if you are interested in using wood shingles.
Before you have your roof replaced, you might want to sit down with your roofing contractor and get their opinion on these different materials. An experienced roofing contractor will be able to give you a much better idea of which material is going to be the ideal option.
