Whether you are building a new home from the ground up or have purchased a new home and want to make some upgrades, one of the most important areas to consider will be your home's roof. Along with making your home look great, your roof also plays a key role in preventing leaks, keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and much more. But as more and more materials are now being used for roofs, you may be having a hard time deciding which will be best for your home. To help with this decision, here are some details about some of today's most popular roofing materials.
Asphalt
Shingle
Having been
the traditional choice for the roofs of homes for decades, asphalt shingle
roofing is still a great material you should seriously consider. Relatively
inexpensive and easy to install on all types of homes, it now comes in many
different colors. Once installed, expect your asphalt shingle roof to last
20-30 years.
Metal
Roof
If you have
looked around your neighborhood lately, chances are you have seen more and more
homes with metal roofing. Though usually more expensive than asphalt shingle
roofs, metal roofs do offer numerous advantages. For starters, a metal roof
will last at least 50 years. Also, metal roofing is known for being very
resistant to all types of extreme weather, which can help protect your home
from damage. Finally, metal roofing is very lightweight and often can be
installed directly on top of an existing asphalt shingle roof.
Concrete
and Clay Tiles
Should your
new homes have an architectural style such as Mediterranean or Southwestern, you
may opt to have concrete and clay tiles installed on your roof. If you do,
expect them to last forever. But as you can imagine, they are also much heavier
than other roofing materials. Because of this, your new home may need
additional framing done to support the added weight of the roof. Also, this
type of roofing material is the most expensive of all materials and needs to
be installed by professionals who have extensive experience with this
particular type of roofing material.
Slate
Shingles
Popular because it is durable and fire-resistant, slate roofing is often found on Colonial ranch homes as well as French Chateau homes. Available in many colors, it is almost as heavy as concrete or clay tiles, expensive, and may also need additional framing while being installed.
No matter which of these materials you ultimately select, you will have a home that looks great and has a roof that will last for many decades.
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