The roof on your house performs a very important function. It keeps you warm and dry.
That’s really all you need to know about roofs. But when it’s time to replace a roof, that’s when you need to know more. Let me explain the different types of roofing materials.
The longest lasting roof is made of concrete tiles. It’s resistant to fire, wind, hail, water and pests. Often it comes with a lifetime guarantee. And the concrete tiles often outlast the building. This type of roof is very prevalent in southern states, such as Florida and Arizona. The bad news? Your structure may not be strong enough to support the weight. And retrofitting the building to support the weight may not be cost efficient.
Next would be a metal roof. No longer is a metal roof’s appearance limited to the vertical seam look. It can mimic slate, clay tile or wooden shakes. This fire resistant material may qualify for a discount on homeowners insurance. This type of low maintenance roof comes with a 40 – 50 year guarantee, and there are no annoying asphalt granules that you’ll need to remove from the gutters every year. A metal roof costs 2 – 3 times more than an asphalt roof.
Now comes the asphalt roof. This is the most popular, commonly called shingles. You can get the flat shingles than look like bricks or the architectural shingles that add a dimensional look. The flat shingles usually have a life span of +- 25 years, the dimensional typically 30 years. You can install a second layer of shingles over the first. This saves the labor costs of removing the first layer. But you cannot add a third layer, it’s too much weight.
I’ve seen older roofs where an installer sprays a new layer of granules onto a roof to extend the life span. I’ve also seen in stores a plastic material that mimics the look of tile roofs. I’ve received no info as to how well these styles of roof hold up.
Lastly – you can go old school and install a thatch roof, which was popular in Europe hundreds of years ago and many are still in use today.
Hey, what ever keeps you dry is good.
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