The roof provides the necessary finishing touches for your home. The materials used for the roofing of your home can get you the desired look and protection. The different qualities of roofing materials have different capabilities when it comes to resisting weather elements like snow, rainfall, and hail. If you want to get a new roof, the first step is to research the different types of roofing material, and find one that provides all the aesthetic and functional needs that must be met. But, before you dive into one of the reasons for getting one material over another, let’s give you a quick run-through of the different roofing materials that are available.
- Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt Shingles have been around for a long time, and they are still very much in use in modern times. Their ease of installation, pocket-friendly price, and durability make it one of the popular choices of materials used in roofing. One of the cons of this roofing is its poor insulation, which affects its lifespan. Unlike metal roofing and solar roofing, asphalt shingles are not eco-friendly.
- Wood Shingles and Shakes
Wood-shingles are usually machine-made, while wood shakes are hand-made, and they come in different grades and textures depending on the type of wood used in their manufacture. Wood shingles are made from decay-resistant wood species, and they are treated with chemicals that make them resistant to fire to a substantial extent. If you want a truly fire-resistant roof, metal roofing might be the best option.
- Metal Roofing
When metal roofs began gaining popularity, they were commonly found in industrial and commercial structures. However, their use has extended to residential buildings over the years. Metal roofing is made from iron, aluminum, lead, steel, and copper, which makes them relatively expensive to install. But the cost is worth it because metal roofs are versatile, durable, and resistant to extreme weather conditions.
- Glass and Plastic
These types of roofing materials are common with buildings like skyscrapers and greenhouse structures. The most notable feature of these materials is how they allow natural light and ventilation into a building. Wire-reinforced glass and fiberglass–acrylic plastics are used instead of glass and plastics for home roofs since they are fire-resistant.
- Green Roofs
Green roofs are one of the eco-friendly choices of roofing materials; on average, they have a lifespan of over 30 years. Green roofs are usually covered with plants and a growing medium, including drainage and irrigation systems. Green roofs help to improve air quality and also insulate the home.
The other types of roofing materials commonly used include clay and concrete tiles, solar tiles, rubber slates, stone-coated steel, etc. For information on cost and installation of a specific roofing material, you should employ the services of a professional roofing company.