Choosing the right roofing material for your home is a critical choice for any homeowner. You want to be able to find the right balance of affordability, strength, durability, and attractiveness. Fortunately, there are many choices available on the market, from affordable roofing options such as asphalt shingles and slate to more high-end choices such as concrete and tiles.
When you do your research and pick the right materials, you will end up with a roof that’s both beautiful to look at and will provide a strong, reliable, and weather-resistant cover to your home for years.
Components to Consider
Here are some of the factors that you should consider when choosing what kind of roofing material to pick:
1. What kind of Weather does my Home Regularly Experience?
This is perhaps the most important question that you need to consider when it comes to choosing what roofing material you’re going to use. Does your geographic location regularly experience extreme weather conditions such as strong rains, extreme heat, or heavy snowfall?
This question becomes even more critical if you live in areas that experience disastrous weather conditions such as typhoons and tornadoes. You need to choose a roofing material that can protect your home from these weather conditions and stand up to long-term stress.
2. What Kind of Roof Slope Do I Have?
Your roof’s slope will further help you narrow down your roofing material choices. If your roof has a steep slope, you need to use materials such as tiles, shingles, or slate. If you have a low or flat roof, you need seamless materials such as metal or concrete. Otherwise, water can pool on the surface of your roof.
3. What is my Budget?
This is the first factor that most people consider when they choose roofing materials, but as discussed above, it’s hardly the only important factor to consider. Depending on the roofing material, the cost can range from affordable to incredibly expensive.
The most popular roofing material, asphalt shingles, will cost around $125 per square foot, while rarer or unique materials such as copper can cost up to $1100 per square foot.
4. How Do I Want My Roof to Look Like?
Since your home’s roof will typically be the first thing that people see from the street, you want to choose a roofing material that’s pleasing to the eye. The color, style, texture, and finish of the material will drastically affect the overall appearance of your home.
When you choose the roofing material for your home, you should keep in mind the architectural theme of the house itself. Nothing looks more jarring than a roof that’s obviously in complete contrast to your home’s design.
Installation Issues to Consider
Aside from the cost, appearance, and strength of the roofing materials, you should also consider the final weight of the roof you plan to install. The structural frame of any roof can only support a certain amount of weight, and if you exceed that limit, you will need to increase the strength of the framing. Renovations like this one will not only increase the installation costs, but it’s also messy and time-consuming.
There are two types of loads, dead and live. Dead loads refer to the weight of the roof itself and the structures that are holding it up. Live load refers to the weight of additional objects on the roof, such as snow or people going up to work on the roof. Any roofing material choice and installation job must take both weight loads into account.
Fire Safety of Roofing Materials
You should always check the fire safety ratings of any roofing material that you choose. There are three ratings. Class A materials are the strongest materials that will hold up well against severe fire hazards. Concrete and metal roofing generally have a class A rating.
Class B materials will stand up against moderate fire exposure. Particle-treated shingles have this kind of rating. Class C materials will only hold up against minor exposure to fire hazards, and they are generally not recommended if you are looking for fire-resistant roofing. Materials such as plywood and untreated wood shingles fall under this category.
When Should I Schedule Roofing Jobs?
The best time to schedule roofing jobs such as replacement or repair is spring or early winter. These periods are generally viewed as “off-seasons” and you might be able to get a roofing job done for lower prices compared to during the summer or fall. However, you should also keep in mind that these periods can have times of unfavorable weather which can prevent the contractors from working on your roof.