It’s no wonder that homeowners and homebuilders alike are using more innovative and long-lasting materials to reduce the costs, eliminate maintenance, and extend the life of their roofs. Typically most roofs on homes are replaced every decade. Greener choices and careful selection of materials can work to reduce the costs of replacing your roof, reduce building materials, minimize needs of natural resource use, reduce discarded waste and SAVE YOU MONEY!

Simple decisions such as choosing a color for your roof can add up to big savings. For example, selecting a material with a light surface color reduces heat absorption from the sun and can considerably reduce your home’s cooling needs and energy bills.

A wide array of choices is available for roofing your home, ranging from natural elements such as dried grass and stone to modern materials such as fiberglass. When selecting a roofing material, it is important to choose the material that best fits your home. Proper installation and occasional maintenance will work to ensure functionality and extend the life of your roof.

Roofing types:

Composition shingles:

At an affordable price, composition shingles offer a clean look, easy installation, and minimal maintenance. They are available in multiple colors and brands as well as high quality, more durable versions such as asphalt and fiberglass which can also be found with recycled content. Composition shingles are easily adaptable and may be nailed in over existing rooftops in some applications. Unfortunately they are not as durable as tile and metal, which have longer life spans, and may be blown away if high winds occur.

Wood Shakes:

Wood shakes offer a natural look and come in a wide variation of color, cut, and thickness. They also provide some energy benefits that include attic insulation and air circulation.

Unfortunately, wood shakes burn easily; many communities restrict the use of shake roofs. This material also require more maintenance and repair than composition shingles. Subject to the problems of mold, insects and rot, the lifecycle costs may be high. Also, wood shakes do not have the option of being recycled.

Installation is more complicated than with composition shingles, while quality largely depends on contractor experience and the quality of shakes used. The best shakes are those from large cedar trees that are becoming difficult to find. The more standardized shakes used today are made from smaller cedar woods and are more prone to warping and twisting.

Roofing Tile:

Tile roofing is an excellent choice for homes that have a Spanish, Southwestern, or Italian design. Typically made from clay, tiles have a life expectancy that is often greater than the material it rests on. They require little maintenance and are impervious to insects, rotting, and fire.

Tile’s greatest disadvantage is weight. Sometimes the weight of using tiles can be so heavy that extra roofing support may be necessary. Other types of tile can be very fragile, so fragile that walking on them might cause them to break. This makes maintenance such as painting or cleaning rain gutters very difficult. Furthermore, tiles can be complicated to install and often cost more than other roofing materials.

Slate:

Slate is very much like tile in that it has a long lifespan, requiring low maintenance, while having a resistance to rot and insects. It also is expensive and may require extra support because of its weight. Slate is actually rock slivers cut into shingles; is available in multiple colors, sizes and styles; and is often found in more upscale homes.

Concrete:

Concrete as a form of roofing material can prove to be a durable and resource-efficient choice. Advantages include a long life span, fire protection, and resistance to rot and insects. For those concerned about the appearance of concrete, alternatives are available that give the appearance of real wood, tile, and slate without some of their disadvantages.

The availability of styles and choices are growing, while technological improvements are providing lighter weight products.

Metal:

From an energy savings and environmental benefit standpoint, metal roofs can be an excellent alternative. Metal roofs are durable, fire resistant, and virtually maintenance free. They can also be made to mimic the appearance of shingles, tiles, and wood shakes.

Energy savings are derived from metal’s ability to reflect heat and block the transfer to the attic. Research has shown a 20 percent energy bill savings among homeowners who switched to metal roofing and that, when compared to asphalt shingles, metal roofs absorbed 35 percent less heat.

Steel roofs use 60 percent to 65 percent recyclable material. They also help to eliminate waste material from ending up in landfills because they can be installed over existing roofs due to their light weight.

Installation can be a very intricate process and is best done by a professional. Initial costs of installing a metal roof are generally higher than other roofing alternatives. To see if a metal roof is the best investment for your home, consider computing a lifecycle cost in comparison to other forms of roofing.