Roof Replacement or Renovation: Choose the Right Roofing Materials

Every home has a roof. From there on in things can vary widely, but roofs are a constant. There are a number of roofing materials to choose from for your roof and each has its own particular advantages. Slate roofs and metal roofs can last for decades or maybe even longer, but costs may be prohibitive. Shingle roofs may not last as long, but they cost much less than their slate counterparts do. Metal roofs are inexpensive and long lasting, but may not offer the energy efficiency of shingle roofs. Each homeowner must weigh the choices and make the best decision for their own particular circumstances.

Slate and Tile Roofs are Long Lasting and Attractive.
You can see homes throughout New England with slate roofs that have been there over a century. These roofs are nearly indestructible and last forever. You will never have to replace a new slate roof in your lifetime, but they can be very expensive to install because you will need a contractor who is a skilled stonemason to install the roof for you. Tile roofing is almost as durable as slate roofing, but not as expensive. The tiles are less expensive, and the labor is not as highly skilled either. If you can’t afford a slate roof, but still want a high quality, durable roof, tile roofing is the way to go.

Metal Roofing has Seen Tremendous Advances in Technology and Use.
In times past metal roofs were made of copper, zinc or lead. They were very expensive but lasted for decades, which made them popular. Today most metal roofs are made from galvanized steel. Metal roofs are naturally highly resistant to insects, fire rot and mildew. Modern metal roofing is also more corrosion proof and will last well for a very long time. Metal roofs are very popular anywhere you find extreme weather, for example in the south where hurricanes are frequent dangers and here in the northern climates, where homeowners typically see a lot of snow. Of all the roofing materials available today metal roofs are by far the least expensive and make a great rate value for any home improvement project.

Shingle Roofs are the Most Popular Roofing Material in the Country.
Most wooden roofing shingles are made from cedar, which is resistant to rot and decay. Of the three categories of wooden shingles available, category number one is best for roofing. There are several sizes of wooden roofing shingles to choose from for your roofing project. While most people prefer the look of a wooden shingle roof, they are a little more expensive than asphalt or fiberglass shingle roofing and they don’t last quite as long. The most popular roofing material bar none is the asphalt roofing shingle. It comes in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. You can choose from various material styles that offer differing durability, depending on your needs. Asphalt shingles are highly susceptible to damage from wind and ice, so you should bear this in mind if you experience frequent bad winter weather, as is the case in Brooklyn, New York.

In almost all cases, you are going to want to have a qualified roofing contractor install your roof for you. Although some homeowners do opt to install their own shingle roofs, in most cases manufacturer warranties require a contractor to install the shingles for you. Given the prohibitive cost of replacing a roof, it is usually going to be less expensive to pay a contractor to install your roof than it would be to replace it again without the benefit of the warranty. You can get several free estimates from roofing contractors through the Brooklyn contractors’ network.