What Type of Roof is Best For My Home?

Whether you’re looking to build new or re-roof your existing home, you might have an interest in knowing what type of roof is the best. Roofing is not something that happens very often in the life of a homeowner, and there have been a number of technological advances in roofing materials in recent years — meaning that whatever experience the average homeowner may have had is already out of date.

And “best” is such a flexible term. Best in terms of what? Longevity? Affordability? Eco-consciousness? Extreme weather-proofing? Ultimately, “best” will be a personal choice on the part of the homeowner, after taking a number of different factors into account.

But let’s take a look at the traits of each of the most common types of roofing material.

Asphalt Shingle

This roofing material is the most common primarily for its affordability. However, the cost of 30-year architectural shingles are not out of line with other roofing materials of similar longevity. If sticker price is an issue, you will most likely go with asphalt, but if you have the luxury of accepting a higher upfront cost for increased longevity, you can easily do so.

Environmentally speaking, asphalt shingles are a petroleum by-product destined for the landfill. Other types of roofing materials are generally recyclable, but not this one.

Cedar Shingle

Wooden shingles are beautiful, no doubt about it. But they don’t last very long, and they cost more than regular shingles. Still, some people do use them. But for a much more durable and cost-effective solution, most are moving toward either asphalt or metal shingles that have been made to resemble wood. Metal is just as recyclable as cedar.

Metal Roofing

There are two primary metal roofing materials — shingle, which can be cast in a variety of shapes for a custom look, or rolled metal sheets. Metal is a slightly more expensive option, but it lasts much longer than asphalt shingle. It can even be recoated with a polymer film to extend its lifespan.

Tile

Not as common in Northern Virginia, but you do see it. Most tile these days is made from concrete. It does have some benefits in terms of longevity, wind- and fire-resistance, but not all structures are able to bear the weight of such a roof.

Slate

Slate is an old stand-by. There are slate roofs that are more than two hundred years old, to give you an idea of the durability of this roofing material. Like metal shingles, it can be cut in interesting patterns, and the variety of colors of slate can be used to stunning effect. It’s a premium product, but you get what you pay for.

Whatever type of roof you desire, we can give you a detailed estimate. Simply call Style Roofing to schedule a visit from an experienced roofer.