Out of All Roof Materials Options – Which Is Best?

Did you know that a new roofing option can return as much as 90% of the original investment when you sell the house? That’s because today’s roofs are made from high-quality materials that preserve their value over the years.

But from all roofing materials out there, which one is the best and why? Should you choose asphalt shingles or a metal roof? This article explores multiple options for roofing, so keep reading to find out the pros and cons of various roofing materials.

Asphalt Shingles – Most Popular Choice

A lot of homeowners go for asphalt shingles for various reasons.

This roofing option is affordable, easy to install, and easy to maintain. You can also have your shingles in various colors to match the design of your house. Asphalt shingles also provide decent insulation and they offer a classic and inviting look to your house.

If you’re on a tight budget and want a dependable, popular roofing option, you cannot go wrong with asphalt shingles.

Wooden Shingles – Get A More Traditional Look

Back in the days, there was a single building material — wood. In recent times, people still use wood in property construction. You can have wood flooring, wooden deck or patio as well as wooden roofing too.

There are multiple advantages if you decide to go for wooden shingles for your roof.

This building material is durable, it makes your property look beautiful, and it’s relatively easy to maintain. Your wooden shingles are specially treated to resist various weather conditions such as rain and snow. They can last for years and are easy to repair or replace, if necessary. When it comes to costs, wood roofing is slightly more expensive than asphalt shingles, but not by much.

Concrete Tiles – A Long-Lasting Option

Concrete is one of the toughest building materials out there. You can use it to pave your driveway, you can have concrete flooring as well as concrete roofing. This type of roofing is so durable that it can last for more than a lifetime. It requires little to no maintenance and if properly installed, it’s impervious to water, insects, and squirrels.

In most cases, roofing specialists use interlocking concrete tiles. These tiles stick together no matter what and they insulate your attic against various weather conditions.

However, keep in mind that concrete tiles are also very heavy. You might want to check with a structural engineer and see if your property can safely support the weight of concrete tiles. If the answer is yes, make sure that you prepare a decent budget because concrete tiles are more expensive than asphalt shingles, for example.

Metal Roofing – Get Excellent Insulation

If you can put concrete on top of your house, why shouldn’t you also put metal? Having a metallic roof is not something new. Property owners have done it for decades because this building material offers a plethora of benefits.

For example, a metal roof is easy to install and it requires little to no maintenance. It cannot be damaged by extreme weather conditions and it successfully prevents mold and mildew accumulation.

On top of that, a metal roof also deflects a lot of sunlight, so your house will be cooler during the warm seasons of the year. Your biggest advantage? Having a smaller energy bill each year!

A metallic roof can also be sealed to prevent rust and other forms of degradation. This building material is not extremely expensive and it can be installed on most roofs, so you should take advantage of it too. At the end of the day, you should compare these roofing options and see which one fits your house better.

Slate Roofing – An Elegant Approach

Another excellent roofing material is slate. This is a natural rock forged by Mother Nature over hundreds of years. It’s available in a plethora of designs, textures, and colors, so you have multiple options to choose from.

Slate is also very durable, so it can easily last a lifetime once properly installed. It also doesn’t need maintenance, so you won’t be fixing your slate roof any time soon.

The list of advantages goes on and on. Slate roofing is also waterproof and it doesn’t sustain combustion, so your house is protected in the event of a fire.

With that being said, you’ll need to find a good contractor to install slate for you because this roofing option is slightly more difficult to put into place. That’s because slate tiles are heavy and require special tools to install, but as long as you find experienced roofing specialists, you have nothing to worry about!

Green Roofing – Saving the Planet

Green roofing doesn’t mean that you’ll paint your roof in green color. This is actually an eco-friendly approach that has become more and more popular.

Green roofs can be installed on houses with a flat top surface. They consist of multiple plants and bushes that capture carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Yes, you’ll have a little greenhouse right on top of your house!

There are many advantages to having a green roof, besides doing your part to reduce the carbon footprint of your property. First of all, a green roof is a good insulator as all the plants and bushes on top of your house will absorb most of the heat coming from the sun. This means a more comfortable living during hot summer days and a smaller energy bill.

If you’re into gardening, your green roof can really keep you busy. You can actually grow plants and flowers on top of your house and enjoy the benefits of being self-sufficient. A lot of people grow tomatoes on their roofs, so why shouldn’t you?

From All Roofing Materials, Which One Is Your Favorite?

These are not all roofing materials, but a comprehensive selection of the most popular and efficient. You can also go for clay tiles or composite shingles that are both easy to install and durable. Feel free to discuss these roofing options with your contractor and see which one fits your needs and preferences the best.

Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to check out the other articles on our blog. You’ll learn more about various roofing options and how to improve the quality of living in general!