6 of the Best Roofing Materials for Your House
According to a recent report, asphalt shingles are utilized during more than 80% of the roof replacement projects in this country. It’s why you’ll see almost nothing but asphalt roofs when you take a trip around your neighborhood.
People have come to appreciate how affordable asphalt roofs are. At the same time, they also like how durable they’ve become. As a result, asphalt shingles are some of the best roofing materials around.
If you’re going to be installing a roof soon, you might want to give some real thought to going with asphalt shingles. But you can also go with many other roof materials for a roof installation.
Want to learn about some of the other types of roofs that will be available to you? Here are six of the other best roofing materials that you can select for home roofing projects.
1. Wood Shake
Although asphalt shingles are found on most American homes these days, they haven’t been around for all that long in the grand scheme of things. They were only invented a little over 100 years ago.
Prior to that, many homes had shingles made out of wood on them. And if you like the idea of installing wooden shingles on a house, you can still do it.
Wood shake shingles, in particular, can give a home a very rustic look. They can also help to insulate a home better than some other roofing materials.
Wood shake shingles can last for a long time, too. You should be able to get upwards of 40 years of life out of them. It’s why wood shingles continue to be one of the best roofing materials.
2. Metal
Most asphalt shingles will last you for between 20 and 30 years. Most wood shake shingles will last you for between 30 and 40 years.
Those are both pretty respectful stretches of time. But if you want roofing materials that are going to blow both of them out of the water, you’ll want to go with a metal roof.
A metal roof can last you for up to 75 years, and in some cases, it’ll last even longer than that. Of all the types of roofs on this list, metal roofs are some of the most durable.
That being said, metal roofs are also the types of roofs that are going to cost you the most money. But it’ll be well worth spending it on a metal roof if you plan on staying in a home for the long haul. It’ll give you access to all the different roof replacement advantages and pretty much guarantee that you don’t ever have to replace your home’s roof again.
3. Tile
You can’t go wrong with purchasing a metal roof for your home. It’s going to last and last (and last!) and prove to be worth every last dollar.
But we should point out that, while metal roofs can last for a ridiculously long time, they actually don’t have anything on tile roofs. More specifically, we’re talking about clay tile roofs here.
Clay tile roofs are just about as strong as it gets. It’s what allows them to last for more than a century in many cases.
You will have to be careful about walking around on tile roofs since they can crack and be difficult to repair. But as long as you’re careful with a tile roof, you shouldn’t have to be too concerned about it giving out on you anytime soon.
4. Slate
The idea of sticking a bunch of stone up on your roof might seem like a completely foreign concept to you. But believe it or not, you can stick stone on your roof and have it last.
Slate roofs are made out of stone that comes directly from quarries. This stone gives them the durability that so many homeowners are searching for when installing a roof.
There are some people who suspect that slate roofs might be able to last for up to two centuries when cared for properly. But only time will tell just how durable these roofs could end up being.
5. Cement
There are some tiles that are made out of cement as opposed to clay. Like clay tile roofs, cement tile roofs can be very sturdy and durable. But not all homes are going to be strong enough to support a cement roof for years on end.
Because of this, many roofers shy away from utilizing cement when installing roofs. But when they’re repairing a roof, they will turn to cement early and often. It can be used to patch up holes and give older roofs strength.
6. Solar Tiles
Most people are familiar with the solar panels that are placed on many roofs these days. But that’s not what we’re talking about when we say solar tiles.
Instead, we’re referring to the actual solar tiles that are being installed in some parts of the country. They look similar to other kinds of shingles, but they have solar panels built right into them that can provide power to a home.
If you’re intrigued by the idea of installing solar panels on your roof, you might want to look into solar tiles. They could be a much better option for you in the long run.
These Are Just Some of the Best Roofing Materials
Will you be installing a roof or even just repairing a roof sometime soon? If you are, you should get the right home roofing company on your side.
You should also search for the best roofing materials in the business so that you’re able to make your home’s roof sturdy. Consider using one of the roofing materials listed here or look for another material that you like.
Find other home improvement articles by looking through the rest of our blog.
