There are a number of types of roofing materials you can choose for your home. While every roof should blend with the aesthetic look of the structure, the alternatives are a personal choice. Some roofs work better in densely wooded environments, while others repel sunlight and reflect heat. Choosing the right roof for your home requires weighing the pros and cons of each material and finally the cost.
The Best 9 Roofing Materials
Selecting the best roofing materials is a personal decision, governed by a few important factors. Of course, you want to blend with the appearance of your home and community, but you also want to consider durability and cost. Here are 9 of the best roofing materials, …show more content…
This is the old-fashioned way of producing the roofing materials used for a wood roof. A wood shake roof is one of the more unique looking of all the types of roofing materials. To improve durability you can elect to have a number of wood preservatives and coloring agents added during installation.
Fire codes limit the use of wood shakes as well, but you can spend a little more for a fire-resistant shake type shingle that meets code requirements. Wood shingles and shakes have about the same life expectancy, both estimated upwards of 40 years. Ironically, each type of roof costs less than 25 percent more than a standard composite shingle roof.
Slate Roofing
Slate maybe one of the most eloquent roof materials available. It is durable and comes in color varieties to meet most any aesthetic desire. Slate is fire resistant and the tiles can be recycled to make new roofs. Using slate for your roof does require an inspection of the roof structure since it is a heavy roofing material.
Slate roofs fit particular house styles very well. It was a staple on Colonial and early European style homes. It does cost more than any of the previous materials, but is tremendously durable. Slate roofs are still standing that are over a century old. Another appealing feature of a slate roof is beauty.
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