Asphalt composition singles are some of the most popular roof types available today. They are typically low-cost, while maintaining an adequate amount of durability. When you take into consideration how easy they are to install, this is a recipe for a type of roof that most consumers see as a value buy: not great in any particular category, but overall you’re getting great value for your purchase. These shingles are typically either fiberglass; the fiberglass shingle is a glass fiber mat coated by asphalt and a filler for waterproofing. The fiberglass shingles tend to be more fire-resistant, which is of course preferable for your own personal safety.
Compared to the modern asphalt composition shingles, wood shingles are comparatively quite traditional, and offer their own benefits. Specifically, some of the most beautiful roofs are made with wood shingles. They are remarkably beautiful and quite durable, with a lifespan between three to five decades – longer than many modern shingles! However, wood shingles are also concomitantly quite expensive to buy and install. Wood shingles, in other words, are largely an aesthetic choice.
Dial T for Tile
Metal roofing, on the other hand, is considerably more durable than other types of roofing, and can be made from a variety of different metals: galvanized or stainless steel, aluminum, copper, corrugated iron, and more. As often as this is seen in underdeveloped countries, commercial properties and structures where cost-efficiency, longevity, ease of installation, and durability also have a use for this roofing in the developed world.
Of course, if metal isn’t your style – and for most homes, it certainly isn’t – then slate may be more to your liking. Slate tile roofing is of some of the highest quality and greatest longevity used today, but the high cost of this type of roofing, when combined with difficult installation and the fragility of the tile itself, means that it may not be what you’re looking for, depending on your home’s needs. However, being a natural stone product, it can provide a beautiful look to your home, one that is unique in your neighborhood.
Another popular style of roof is the clay tile roof. This is more widely used in the southwestern United States and other hot, dry parts of the world, as it is naturally protected from the damage that the sun’s rays might cause. Furthermore, compared to wood tiles, it is protected against the rot and insect damage that often plagues other kinds of roofing. On the other hand, clay tiles are quite expensive and heavy, and while you may be able to afford the tile, your home may not have the strength to support a whole roof of clay tiles!
Cost/Benefit
Ultimately, what you’re looking for is a roof that can last for decades in your particular environment. The kind of weather you can expect to face is a big part of your decision-making process here; some types of roof deal better with regular rain or extremely hot weather than others, and if you don’t want to have to replace your roof sooner rather than later, then it behooves you to plan for the environmental conditions that your roof will have to deal with. The same goes for local flora and fauna; if termites are an issue in your area, for example, then a wood roof may be a bad idea!
Then, of course, you also have to take into consideration how expensive the roof type is. After all, if you can’t afford it, you can’t get it! Decisions like these are often all about making a compromise between cost and benefit. Fortunately, you won’t have to make that choice alone!
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