The Top Five Types of Roof Material for Aesthetics and Optimal Home Efficiency
You’ve probably heard multiple times that a home is more than four walls and a roof. However, without these structures, you wouldn’t have loving family gatherings, a haven from daily troubles, and safety from harsh natural elements.
Your roof, the head of your home, especially carries much weight when protecting your abode, so make sure to choose the appropriate types of roof material when protecting your most valuable investment. Rock House Roofing is the top roofing contractor in Woodstock, GA, with more than 100 five-star reviews for roof services that speak for themselves.
Below are the five types of roofing material to consider when you need a new roof.
1. 3-Tab Asphalt Shingles
On average, 80% of U.S. homes use asphalt shingles, making them one of the most popular types of roofing. One of the primary reasons is its cost-effectiveness, ranging from $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot, costing less than $6,500 to replace an entire roof with this material on average.
Although these shingles have the lowest lifespan, they require fewer repairs since they have a level-4 impact rating. It stands up to winds of 150 MPH and handles heavy snow and rain within its 15 to 30-year lifespan. However, if the inevitable missing or broken shingle occurs, a professional contractor replaces the single tile without uprooting large portions of your roof.
2. Wood Shakes
Wood shakes or wood shingles are more aesthetically pleasing than the typical 3-tab asphalt shingles since they provide a rustic charm to cottages, country homes, and other structures with historical characteristics. Although they can last up to 40 years with proper maintenance, sometimes doubling the lifespan of asphalt shingles, they won’t survive more than 30 years in given environments.
For example, woodsy areas that experience constant wildfires may not be safe for these types of roof material. Additionally, beachfront properties with plenty of saltwater exposure and locations with heavy rainfall lead to rot, curling shingles, and fungal growth on the porous, water-absorbing rooftops.
3. Metal Roofing
Customizable metal roofing takes many forms, from standing seam metal roofing to stamped metal shingles, slate, and tiles. Out of all shingle types of roof material, metal shakes are the longest-lasting, with an average lifespan of 50 to 60 years.
These granule-covered steel or aluminum materials are also most durable against heavy snow, rain, winds, and UV rays that would otherwise penetrate your home, affecting indoor temperatures. However, the surprisingly lightweight material comes at a higher cost of up to $43,000, depending on your roof size and the metal style and material you choose.
4. Stone-Coated Steel
Stone-coated steel roofs are metal roofs or rolled steel sheets topped off with a thick decorative stone layer. Together, the stone and steel create one of the most indestructible roof types, resistant to hail, snow, almost nine inches of rain and snow damage, and winds up to 120 MPH. Since it doesn’t expand and contract like wood shingles, moisture, frost, and thaws don’t crack or split the material.
Therefore, stone-coated steel roofing is perfect for moist or rainy areas alongside regions susceptible to wildfires, unlike wood shingles. Fortunately, this material is barely more expensive than shingles, with prices ranging from $5.40 to $11 per square foot. It’s also long-lasting, with its lifespan reaching 70 years, lengthening the protection of your home and increasing property values.
5. Membrane Roofing
Membrane roofing contains a thermoplastic material with 30 to 60 millimeters of thickness. Many solely prefer the water-proof thermoplastic material for its ability to secure houses from the elements the way multiple layers of asphalt would. However, they can cost up to $17 per square foot to install or replace, making them more expensive than economical asphalt.
Despite its makeup, from a modified bitumen with polyester fibers to a polyvinyl chloride compound, the product creates a water-tight seal. This seal protects flat roofs from stagnant water since water doesn’t run off them like on slanted roofs. With proper care, a membrane roof lasts 30 years.
The Rock Hard Guarantee
The different types of roof material available can make it difficult to determine the appropriate one for your home. When considering factors like style, durability, and costs become overwhelming, trust Rock House Roofing in Woodstock, GA, for rock-hard results. Schedule roof replacement services and inspections or get a free quote by containing the Rock House Roofing team.
