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3 Of the Most Popular Roofing Materials

Written by Posted On Friday, 08 April 2016 04:20

Composition Shingles

If you are looking for a clean look and at an affordable price, then composition shingles make for a good choice. A more durable option can be had with fiberglass or asphalt shingle versions which contain recycled content.

Composition shingles arrive in many different colors, brands, and types. They easily adapt to different applications, are fairly easy to install, and with some applications may be nailed into position over an existing roof. They also take low maintenance and may be walked upon with no damage being done. Most available brands come with Class A fire protection.

On the downside, in high winds, they are liable to blowing off. And, they do not possess the dimensional look found in shake or tile.

 

Wood Shakes

Wood shakes look natural and have a lot of character. No two shakes are the same because of variations in width, color, cut of the wood, and thickness. There are a few energy benefits, also: It permits the property to breathe; helps in insulating the attic; and air circulation is good.

Nevertheless, proper maintenance and repair are demanded, or it will fail to last. Insects, mold, and rot can be problematic.

The majority of wood shakes remain unrated with respect to fire safety codes. Pressure-treated shakes do, however, meet standards of national fire safety.

The installation of wood shakes is a more complicated procedure than installing composite shingles. The finished roof’s quality will depend partly on the contractor’s abilities and the caliber of the shakes.

The best shakes available have come from old cedar tree heartwood. When selecting shakes, care should be taken as their quality varies greatly.

 

Clay Tile

For homes with an Italian, Spanish Mission, or a southwestern design, clay roofing tiles make for a good choice. Tile will last, and its expected lifespan is in fact longer than the material on which it sits. It does not burn or rot, and it remains unharmed by insects. There is little maintenance required, and it arrives in various styles, brands, types, and colors.

The largest drawback is its weight, and it can be particularly heavy – to the point that it may be a requirement to install extra roof support. And, with respect to some of the newer materials, coloring is added over the tile’s surface, which may fade given time.

Further, tile is fragile, thus walking over them can cause breakage, thereby making it trickier to accomplish maintenance tasks such as cleaning rain gutters and painting. The initial installation process can be somewhat more difficult to achieve than with alternative roofing materials.

Tile also may cost more than various other roofing materials.

 

For images of tile roofs and others, please have a look at a gallery of beautiful roofs.

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Brett Calloway

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