The World Of Roofing - Different Types Of Roof Materials

Sep 14
08:03

2010

Aaliyah Arthur

Aaliyah Arthur

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Getting a new roof? Probably the most important consideration is what type of materials to use. This article introduces the most common roofing materials, and gives the pros and cons of each.

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Choosing the right roofing means making a lot of decisions. The first step is to decide what kind you want. How long do you want your roof to last? What style works best with your house? How much maintenance do you want to put into it? These are all good questions to ask. To help you figure it out,The World Of Roofing - Different Types Of Roof Materials Articles here are the main types of roofing available.

Composite
Composite roofing is the most popular. Materials used are usually asphalt and fiberglass, but there is a variety of other material used. Usually "non-organic" means lots of fiberglass. This material is popular and convenient because they guarantee a sturdy roof, long life, and they go well with just about any style of house, whether it's modern or classic. It can be made to look how you want it to look.

Slate And Clay
Slate and clay are the one most preferred for folks who go for style over anything else. They're beautiful and elegant, and to make shingles out of these materials takes a great deal of skill. They're high quality and low maintenance. The only drawback to these materials is that they are expensive. Because the process of manufacturing them is so labor intensive, it can cost quite a bit to go with clay or slate.

Metal
Metal roofing is also expensive, but it lasts longer than clay or slate. In fact, your metal roof will probably be around longer then you will. They have an average lifespan of 50 years, which is much longer than composite, where you can expect around 20 years of life. Metal comes in lots of different styles and all are very low maintenance. Although costly, metal offers the highest quality, best durability and longest life, which is why many folks feel like it's worth the price.

Tile
Tile roofs look great, but tile only works for certain styles. For example, a tile roof just doesn't look right on a ranch house. Tile is fireproof, tough and low maintenance. Much of tile's high cost is because of the difficult installation.

Wood Shingle
Wood shingle offers a natural look, and even gives you some natural insulation. This allows your house to be more environmentally friendly, and it saves you money on your bills each month. It's also easy to fix or replace if there's a problem. The only trouble with wood is that you're compromising on life-span, and it's not fireproof.

Eco-Roofs
These environmentally friendly roof materials are the latest thing. They offer benefits like natural insulation, filtering of rain water and low maintenance. They're also nice looking. Eco-roofs are expensive to get and install, but they're guaranteed to save money of the long haul. They're not appropriate for all styles of homes in the US, but they're extremely popular in Europe.

When thinking about doing your roof, it's all about materials. The right roof materials will make your house look great, save you money on insulation and repairs, and last a good long time. It's just a matter of getting the materials that work best for you.