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Top 8 Roofing Materials and Types for Homes

Top 8 Roofing Materials and Types for Homes

The roof is an important component of a house. It shelters the occupants from the harsh weather conditions while providing warmth and safety for them. Roofs are constructed from different materials to match the general weather condition of a city or a country.  

With improving technology, roofs are now available in fiberglass and asphalt combination or paired with wood shingles. Often, flat and small roofs are cemented with tar, while rubber is fast gaining popularity, today. Since the world is conscious of a “greener” lifestyle, hence homeowners now seek the best roofing materials that are easy to maintain, eco-friendly, and low-cost. If you seek to change your existing roof, this article will assist you with suitable purchase options.

Adding a new roof to your home or updating a new one, gives you a chance to add value to the home where you live in. While roof framing and its installation play an important role, the materials that are chosen for enhancing the look of your home also play an important role in bringing your home exterior to a level above. So, changing the rooftop, without a doubt is a way of changing the style and look of your home.

Roofing materials come in different types. They are necessary for bringing out the perfect look in your house. Some of the most essential roofing materials that top the list include the following:

Metal Roof 
Low on maintenance, fire-resistant, light-weight, sun reflector, and with higher durability, metal roofs are fast gaining recognition. Although they are expensive and require installation by an expert, their benefits make them a winner. Steel and aluminum are popular choices, while copper is emerging on the scene. Metals can easily be molded into traditional roofing, from slate to Spanish tiles. Hence, when you install a metal roof, your energy bills will be low during the summers.

Galvanized Steel Roofing 
Galvanization is the process of coating steel or iron with zinc to reduce the rusting probability. In this method, the metal is hot-dipped in a zinc coating to create a layer that prevents rusting due to moisture present in the weather. A galvanized roof does not require regular maintenance unlike non-galvanized stainless steel or aluminum roofs. Moreover, it enhances the exteriors of a house or a building. 

Solar Tiles 
Countries or cities that receive ample sunshine all around the year should opt for solar tiles. These tiles are energy-efficient as they harness the power of the sun to keep the interiors warm during the harsh winters and keep the energy bills low. They seamlessly integrate into existing shingles, which makes them easier to install as solar panels that can generate 1 KW of energy per 100 sq. ft.  However, they are costlier than traditional solar choices.

Stone-Coated Steel
For windy and wet climates susceptible to wildfires, a stone-coated steel roof is an economical choice. This metal roof has interlocking panels that imitate clay, shingles, or slate, and are resistant to damage stemming from freeze-thaw and hail, high speeding winds (120 miles/hour), and heavy rains (8.8 inches/hour). Some manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty. 

Rolled Roofing 
Rolled roofing is yet another reasonable option for outdoor edifices such as a garage, potting shed, barn, or work shed. This Do-It-Yourself installation is perfect for low-slope roofs. Easily available in any home improvement store, they are manufactured in 36 feet long x 36 inches wide roll sheets that can be easily customized. Since, each roll weighs only 75 pounds, hence easily transportable. All you need are the roofing nails to fix this roof.   

On the flip side, it has a short shelf-life of 5-8 years, is less durable than wood shingles, and low on color choices. However, it’s the best option for your low-incline structures.  

Wood Shingles and Shake 
Wood shingles and shakes appear elegant with their woody presence, and as they slowly fade to a gorgeous tinge of gray. Wood shakes are handcrafted, while wood shingles are designed from a machine.        

Crafted from redwood, southern pine, and cedar, wood shingles are eco-friendly tiles that offer a rustic look. However, since they are manufactured from wood, they are not fire-resistant and mold, rot or split can easily grow on them in a wetter climate. Nonetheless, they are also available with a fire-resistant coating.  

These best roofing materials have a lifespan of 25-30 years and offer rustic aesthetics to Tudor-style homes, cottages, or bungalows.  

Synthetic Roofing Products 
With the emerging consumer needs, the roofing industry is evolving too. Today, synthetic roofing products, such as polymer, rubber, and plastic are available. They can be molded into desired colors and textures that resemble natural resources like wood and slate. Designed to be sturdy and easy to maintain, often they are fire-resistant.


Additional Read

How to Build a Pergola With Ease?

Synthetic Slate Roof
Synthetic slate shingles are durable, easy to install, and pocket-friendly alternative to metal and natural roofing. They offer a warranty of up to 50 years and can easily withstand harsh weather conditions. The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) suggests that you should first look at the full-size sample and review your neighborhood for the synthetic tiles being used before purchasing. Ideally, 10 years of installation is a decent timeframe to judge the quality of such roofs. Since they can be customized, hence they look great with uniquely designed homes.

Tar and gravel:
They are also known as built-up roofs and are used on flat roofs with 3-12 pitches. Flat roofs are usually sloped so as to prevent water from leaking. Tar and gravel roofs are constructed in alternating layers with heavy roofing. Hot tar mixed with a mineral coat such as gravel is used to cover the openings, which might be on the roof. The roof is usually rated depending on the number of layers installed.

Modified bitumen:
This type of roofing material combines many features of the gravel roof and standard tar. Additional layers of fiberglass and polyester contain bitumen, which acts derivative of tar. This type of roof is usually put down in multiple plies and has significant strength and resistance to weathering. Other bitumen modifier agents that are used to enhance asphalt qualities are atactic polypropylene and styrene butadiene styrene.

EPDM Rubber:
This type of roofing material was originally used commercially. Nowadays, it is gaining momentum in the market for flat and low-slopped residential roofs. Ethylene propylene diene monomer is used to create a single rubberized roof. It has UV resistant segment and it does not need any additional mineral coating when completed. That makes it lighter than tar and gravel. It has a common underlayment, which is rigid and insulated on the roof deck.

Roll:
This type of material is used in shed roofing or in other inexpensive roofs. It is a low-cost roofing material and has a short lifespan. It has a mineral surface and is made from the same material as that asphalt shingles.

Metal:
These types of roofing materials are lightweight and durable. They can be manufactured to give any imaginable appearance. A metal tile for example is 0.1 the weight of a single clay tile hence making them much safer in the weather conditions that are severe. The metal roofs are provided in two options. They come in either shingles or panels. They are expensive and have a lifespan of over thirty years.

Composition shingles:
This type of roofing material is divided into two; organic and fiberglass. Organic roofs are made of cellulose fiber that is made from recycled paper or wood fiber. The base is thereafter saturated using asphalt and given an additional coating on one side so as to resist weathering. Fiberglass shingles are usually made in the same manner but the centre core is made of fiberglass. This makes the shingles more flexible and stronger than ordinary cellulose materials.

Dimensional shingles:
These types of roofing materials are made from the same material as that organic and fiberglass compositions shingles but are a bit thicker in appearance. An additional layer in these roofing materials provides an attractive shadow line that gives the roof a customized appearance. The lifespan of this type of roofing material is up to 40 years.

Asphalt shingles:
They are used on steep-sloped roofs and are reinforced through organic fiberglass material. Organic reinforcement provides a shorter lifespan. They are hence not long-lasting.

Conclusion:
Each roofing material has its distinct advantages and disadvantages. Florida Lumber will help you to identify the best roofing materials depending on your requirement, budget, and climate. We hope this guide will help you select a roof that fits well on your parameters.

If you are looking for the best roofing materials in Miami then you must visit Florida Lumber to buy quality materials for your roof.

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