The type of roofing material you choose to protect your home will impact its appearance and longevity. This guide will help you pick the best roofing materials for your unique roof design. Asphalt shingles are inexpensive, durable, and come in many colors. They are a great choice for most climates. Slate is a high-end roofing material with a 50-year lifespan or beyond.
Rolled Roofing
Roll roofing is an oil-based asphalt product that comes in 100-square-foot rolls and can be rolled right onto the roof to protect structures from the elements. While it is less durable than other types of roofing and may not help to increase a home’s resale value, it does provide a quick and inexpensive solution for homeowners who need to re-roof their homes.
Underlayment with this type of roofing is recommended, and nails should be hammered at 10-inch intervals across the roof. It will help the top to stay secure and prevent water infiltration. Plumbing vents should be sealed with boot flashing.
Recovery has its benefits, and it is especially alluring in Florida, where there is a nearly constant risk of rain during the summer. Keeping the building dry while the roof is being removed might be difficult. Rolled roofing is usually used for unoccupied buildings and structures like work sheds, gazebos, three-season rooms, garages, barns, outdoor exercise structures or kids’ treehouses. However, it is also an option for Florida residential roofs with a low pitch. However, a professional Florida roofing company should be consulted to determine whether it will meet local building ordinances.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are the roofing material for around 80% of all home roofing projects. These simple, affordable shingles are relatively easy to install and don’t require any structural changes to your house to support them. They offer various color, style, and texture options to match your unique aesthetic. They’re also durable enough to stand up to most weather conditions. There are currently three main categories of shingle design: strip, dimensional and luxury. The most basic type of shingle is the standard three-tab strip shingle. This shingle has a three-fold thickness in the form of tabs along its surface. It is reinforced with a heat-sensitive adhesive to make it self-seal and adhere to the surrounding shingles. The next category of shingle is the dimensional or architectural shingle. It’s laminated to add a more textural quality to your roof. It can also be used on your roof’s hip and ridge lines.
Clay Tiles
Clay is a popular choice for roofing because of its long lifespan. It has become the world’s favorite roof material since it first appeared in America around 1650. It is a highly attractive material that can be made into several styles to suit your home’s aesthetic and vision. You can choose from the instantly recognizable terra cotta shade or other colors like natural browns and summery oranges. They also come with various finishes to enhance the color and give your house a unique look.
Tile roofs have a high level of resistance to decay, mildew, insects, wind, fire, and hail. They are also strong insulators, helping regulate indoor temperatures and reduce energy consumption. Clay tiles are heavier than asphalt shingles, so you’ll want to ensure your roof structure can support the additional weight before opting for this material. Proper maintenance will ensure that your clay roof can reach its full lifespan of up to 100 years.
Slate Tiles
Tile roofs resist wind, fire, hail, mildew, insects, and deterioration. They come in various colors and shades and are heat-resistant, making them an ideal roofing material for homes in hot climates. They are also energy-efficient, as they help to keep cool air inside the house in summer and warm air inside during winter. A thinly layered, fine-grained metamorphic rock is used to create slate tiles. These stones are then cut into a wide range of shapes, sizes and thicknesses to create unique designs on the rooftop of your home. Typically, slate comes in various colors, including unfading blacks, greens, reds, and grays. The color depends on the minerals in the stone, such as hematite producing purple highlights and chlorite causing green hues. Slate is a more expensive roofing option but offers an authentic and pleasing aesthetic solution for traditional-style houses. It can last up to 100 years and is tough enough to withstand extreme weather conditions.