Roofing materials are an integral part of any home and having a sound roofing materials checklist is something you should really have in place before any project. It’s the first layer to protect your house from the elements, and sometimes it can be the only thing protecting you from a natural disaster. As such, every homeowner should know exactly what they’re looking for when it comes time to make their purchase. Here is a quick guide on how to find roofing materials that will suit your needs best!
If you’ve been looking into roofing materials, you may have noticed that there are a lot of different options. In this article, we’ll look at the most common types of roofing materials and compare their pros and cons from both a financial standpoint as well as what they offer from a home protection standpoint. We will also take a brief look at how the price is determined for each material.
Some common types of roofing materials include asphalt shingles, metal roofs, cedar wood shakes and panels, slate (and other stone) tiles, clay tiles, concrete roofing tiles (“Spanish tiles”), rubber roofing materials (EPDM), fiberglass shingles, and plastic, wood or metal shingles.
Every roofing material has its pros and cons and the type of roof you choose for your home is largely determined by what you want to spend as well as what suits your climate and style preferences. Expensive materials like clay tiles may offer some great benefits, but if you live in an area where it rarely rains and your roof is unlikely to need protection from the elements, it may not be worth paying a premium for such great benefits.
On the other hand, you may want to consider more expensive materials if having a high-quality roof system is important to you and you plan to stay in your home for many years as the initial cost of renting or hiring a roofer to install a high-quality roofing material is likely to be offset by the fact that you won’t have to replace it for a very long time.
Most materials used for roofs are not designed for extended periods of time exposed to sunlight and heat. Over time, this will cause them to wear down and need replacement or repair. So, it is important to consider which materials will have the longest lifespan as well as come with a warranty of at least ten years.
Brief List of Roofing Materials
The following list briefly describes some of the more common roofing materials and their costs as per square foot, installation costs, and average life span:
Asphalt shingles – are made from asphalt mixed with mineral fillers and covered with a fiberglass mat for reinforcement. They’re cheap, easy to install, and highly durable, lasting as long as 20 years or more in most cases. The downside is that they don’t look very nice and can be quite noisy when it’s windy or raining hard.
Metal roofing – is available in copper, steel, or aluminum. Metal is durable and attractive but tends to be expensive and requires experienced welders for installation.
Cedarwood shakes and panels – are beautiful but require regular maintenance to stay in good shape. They’re not very water-resistant so they typically need to be covered with another material like shingles or metal for protection.
Slate, clay, and concrete roofing tiles – are considered very attractive but are often the most expensive types of roofing materials. They’re typically installed by professional roofers and can last for up to 50 years or more when properly maintained.
Rubber roofing materials – (EPDM) are durable, easy to install and available in a range of attractive colors. They’re great for areas with cold winters as they don’t expand or contract due to temperature changes, but they can be punctured so repairs are typically quite costly.
Fiberglass shingles – similar to asphalt shingle but more durable and often come with long warranties. They offer great protection from the elements but typically cost more than asphalt shingles.
Plastic, wood or metal shingles – are not typically used as roofing materials by themselves, but may be used to cover other types of roofs like tile or slate. They can easily become waterlogged and rot.
As you can see, there are many different types of roofs that have their own pros and cons. It is important that anyone thinking about installing a new roof (or repairing the roof on their existing home) carefully considers all of these factors before choosing which type of roof would be best for them. If you need to hire a roofer to install your new roof, use a trusted referral from friends or relatives to help you find someone who will provide quality service at a fair price.
Roofing Materials Checklist FAQ
What materials are needed for roof?
There are many roofing materials available, depending on your situation. The easiest to maintain are asphalt shingles, although they do not last forever. A more durable, longer-lasting material is metal. Tile materials are often very expensive but are also long-lasting and require little maintenance.
What are the 5 major roofing materials types of roofing material?
The five major types of roofing materials are:
– Asphalt shingles
– Metal roofing (steel or aluminum, both can be painted)
– Clay tile. Can last for 100+ years if properly maintained. Very expensive to install and purchase. Requires little maintenance except for cleaning/painting every few decades.
– Rubber materials. These can last a long time if properly maintained, but they are not as durable as the other roofing materials and require more frequent replacement.
– Concrete tile. Requires little maintenance, very expensive to install and purchase, but still needs to be replaced every 40-50 years.
What is the most commonly used residential roofing material?
The most commonly used residential roofing material is asphalt shingles.
What are some types of metal roofs?
There are many different kinds of metal roofs, with the most commonly seen being steel or aluminum. Steel must be painted to protect it from rust. Aluminum is a non-rusting material and does not require painting.
What is the longest-lasting roofing material?
The longest-lasting roofing material is clay tile.