Roofing Products: Choose The Right One For You

We all know that roofs are considered as the workhorse of a house, but it generally does not get the regular maintenance it deserves. Roofs provide a protective shield to your illuminated kitchen and luxurious bedrooms from the outside world. People come to think of roofs only when they are not able to provide adequate shelter, or when they get damaged or when the roofs have leaks.

To ensure that your roofs are of high-quality and last for a long time, you must get the right roofing materials. 

Making The Right Decision While Choosing Roofing Products: 

Nowadays, every homeowner has learned to embrace the caliber of curb appeal, and roofs might be the best way to achieve your dreams on a large scale.

Observing Different Types Of Roofs: 

When you observe different roofing products that are used on the surrounding properties, you can take note of what you would prefer for your house. In addition, you must do research on various roofing codes of your area. 

Note: Certain areas or regions have restrictions on the types of acceptable roofing products and how they should be installed.

What You Must Look For In A Roof

There are several factors that you must consider selecting a roof including:

• How long will the roof last?
• Will the roof be strong enough to hold up during natural disasters such as wildfires or hurricanes?
• Will the new roof be too heavy for the existing roof framing?
• Does the roof have enough slope?
• Will the look of the roof complement the style of the house?
• Are the roofing materials or products eco-friendly and recyclable?
• Does your roofing type follow the local building codes?
• And finally, how much does the entire roofing products and installation cost?

1) Roofing Products: Asphalt shingles - These are considered to be the most popular type of roofing for homes.

• Materials Used: It is generally made of either an organic paper fiber mat or fiberglass which are impregnated with asphalt and coated with mineral granules.
• Appearance: It is available in traditional 3-tab shingles or thicker laminated “architectural” shingles.
• Eco-Friendly: Petroleum-based product that’s not eco-friendly. It can be recycled, though often taken to landfills.
• Durability: Not very durable. Algae-resistant shingles are available in humid climates to prevent staining.
• Weight: Moderate 
• Cost: Inexpensive to moderate.
• Pros: You can get Asphalt in a variety of colors that are widely available and not very expensive.
• Cons: Asphalt roofing material has a shorter life span than other roofing materials. Moreover, it doesn't provide insulation which is a major disadvantage.

2) Metal Roofing Material: 

• Materials: Available in aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and zinc or zinc alloy. The steel roofs are coated with either a zinc or a painted finish.
• Appearance: It provides a sleek finish appearance. It is light-weight, long-lasting, and recyclable. 
• Eco-Friendly: They are eco-friendly as the materials used can be recycled.
• Durability: It is quite durable but also depends on the material you use.
• Weight: Lightweight.
• Cost: Moderate (steel) to expensive (copper).
• Pros: Using metal roofing would be beneficial during extreme weather conditions. Moreover, they are durable, and last longer than asphalt or wood, and offer high solar reflectance.
• Cons: It is relatively more expensive than other roofing materials.

3) Clay Roofing Material: Clay tiles are used as roofing products to add elegance to the house. 

• Materials: The clay tiles are made by using natural clay which is fired in a kiln.
• Eco-Friendly: The clay tiles are eco-friendly but require significant energy to manufacture.
• Durability: Long-lasting and low maintenance but brittle and can break.
• Weight: Heavy
• Cost: Expensive.
• Appearance: it has a genuine flat, ribbed or scalloped look which provides an authentic Spanish or Italian appearance.
• Pros: Clay tiles are beneficial because they are long-lasting, non-combustible, and are energy efficient.
• Cons: The disadvantages of using clay tiles are that they are expensive, brittle, heavy, and generally require additional framing to support the structure. 

4) Wood Shingles

• Materials: The shingles are commonly made of cedar, but you can also use redwood instead of cedar.
• Appearance: It imparts a natural look to the house.
• Eco-Friendly: Wood Shingles are entirely made from natural materials.
• Durability: It has a short lifespan and requires regular maintenance.
• Weight: Moderate in weight.
• Cost: Moderate.
• Pros: It offers a great rustic look to the roof and makes use of only natural products. 
• Cons: As per the fire codes, some areas or regions restrict the use of wood shingles. Wood shingles are not suitable for wet climates and can mold, split or rot.

Summary:

In the last few years, the availability of roofing materials has expanded, hence choosing the right roofing products can be really overwhelming. Expert roofing contractors recommend every homeowner to be an informed customer and must understand the process of choosing the type of roofing product that is right for your house. The roof of your house is one of the most important aspects because it protects everyone and everything inside the house. Roofs help you to make a statement on the house!