Every roof choice available for your home

Every part of our house is essential. If we had to write down house parts in order of importance, it wouldn’t be surprising if the roof is on the top that list. After all, the roof is our first line of defense against the harsh rays of the sun, torrential rains, heavy winds, and heavy snow.

With the job it has to do, our roof must be made of the best available materials. It’s a good thing then that there are now a lot of options for roofing material, and innovative ones at that. So choose from the list below, get roofers that are protected by roofing contractors insurance to install it, and you’ll end up with the best possible roof over your head.

9 different types of roof materials

• Asphalt shingles
• Clay and concrete tiles
• Metal roof
• Wood shingles/shake shingles
• Fiber cement
• Recycled rubber
• Green roof
• Slate tiles
• Solar shingles

Asphalt shingles

Asphalt shingles are affordable, easy to install, and quite resilient, which are probably the reasons why they’re the most common material for residential roofs in the United States. More than 75% of American roofs are made of asphalt shingles, which come in a variety of colors.

They go well with houses with various architectural styles, and they’re great for homes with suburban styles. These shingles made from petroleum products can also be reinforced with fiberglass or cellulose.

Clay and concrete tiles

Roofs made out of clay and concrete tiles are quite durable, although they’re also quite heavy. They have a life span of more than 50 years. Fireproof, insect-proof, and impervious to decay, clay and concrete tiles are also recyclable and energy-efficient, which make them one of the greenest roofing materials available.

Your roof will also look more elegant and textured if you use clay and concrete tiles for it. In fact, they would be perfect for your house if it has a Mediterranean, Southwestern, or Spanish style.

Metal roofing

Anything made of metal tends to be durable, and metal roofing is no exception. A metal roof can potentially last for up to 75 years and can withstand extreme weather conditions with ease.

It’s also a very safe roofing material because it’s non-combustible. Unlike clay and concrete tiles, metal roofs are typically lighter, and you can get them in a wide variety of sizes, styles, and colors. Metal is also an environmentally-friendly roofing material, being recyclable.

Most of the neighborhood homes on 30a have metal roofs because they battle the elements in Florida including the hot sun and salt air very well.

Wood shingles or shakes

Wood shingles or shakes make for a very charming and attractive roof. Usually made from cypress, western red cedar, redwood, and pine trees, wood shingles or shakes are perfect for cabins or cottages, but they can also be used to enhance the look of any home.

There are several limitations to roofs made of wood shingles or shakes though. For one, they tend to be expensive. For another, they’re not ideal for houses located in wet climates, where they will be more susceptible to the elements. You may not also be able to get them if your home is in an area that has a fire code that bans their use.

Fiber cement

Fireproof and durable, fiber-cement composite tiles are made up of a mixture of clay, concrete, and wood fiber. These tiles are often deliberately shaped to resemble shakes, and they are lighter than regular concrete tiles. They are available in various colors and textures.

Recycled rubber

You can now have an environmentally-friendly roof by using recycled rubber. Rubber shingles are quite durable and can last for up to 50 years. Falling hailstones and tree branches would just bounce off it. It can also withstand heavy storms quite well, being water-resistant.

Rubber shingles weigh as much as asphalt shingles and can be made to resemble slate, wood, and other traditional roofing materials.

Green roof

Have you seen homes with plants, trees, or any kind of vegetation on top of it? Those are houses with green roofs, and they are definitely the most eco-friendly of all.

If you have such greenery on top of your home, then you have a roof that provides excellent insulation during extreme weather conditions. With a green roof helping regulate the temperature inside your house during the hottest days of summer and the coldest days of winter, you can expect a significant reduction in your heating and cooling bills.

A green roof is also eco-friendly in the sense that they can potentially provide a sanctuary for wildlife.

Slate tiles

Most durable roofing materials last 50 or so years. Slate tiles, on the other hand, have the potential to last for a hundred years or even longer.

The durability of slate tiles, which are thin sheets of stone, is one of its most attractive characteristics. Slate tiles, however, look stunning as well, particularly on Colonial or European-style homes.

Some may see their relatively high cost and heavy weight as a minus, but slate tiles more than make up for them with their durability, punctuated by their fire-resistant properties and sustainability. Easy to quarry and available in many colors, slate is one of the best roofing materials in the market today.

Solar shingles

Solar shingles do more than just shield your home from the elements. They also happen to be actual solar panels that harness the energy of the sun.

Solar shingles have the appearance of asphalt shingles, but they produce up to 63 watts of electricity each. And even though solar shingles are thinner than typical solar panels, they’re strong enough to hold up to severe weather conditions. With their durability, flexibility, and power-generating capability, solar shingles are some of the most innovative roofing materials available out there.

Final thoughts

With so many available roofing materials to choose from, the search for the right roofing material for your home can prove to be fun. It can also put you in the middle of a dilemma, though.

So if you want the perfect roof for your house, it’s always best to consider all possible factors, from the climate in the region where you live to the overall look that you want your home to have. Of course, you also have to make sure that you hire experienced roofers to install everything.

Additional real estate resources

Luke Skar tells about the advantages of the FHA 203K loan were as one of the benefits is being able to replace or repair the roof.

It is so important to treat the home like you actually care about. Although many people neglect their homes after they buy Joe Boylan tells some great home maintenance tips to keep your house happy running smoothly.

If you’re thinking about selling check out this article by Karen Hyland which goes over all the points you need to cover before listing your home.