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The Different Types of Roofing Materials

roof with multiple roofing materials

Roofing Material Options for Your Home

A crucial aspect of the roofing process is to choose the right roofing material for your home, ensuring the structural integrity of your roof. The quality of the roofing material chosen will impact the functionality of the roof. Given its primary purpose is to keep your family safe, dry, and insulated, it’s worthwhile to invest in the best roofing material for the job.

It can be tough to determine which materials are best suited to your home, so below is a little guide to the roofing materials available and each of their best features.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are the most commonly used roofing material, primarily because they are the cheapest. They are more liable to weather damage and so they would likely need replacing more frequently than other materials. They could result in more out-of-pocket repair costs than other materials, despite being cheaper to initially install. The average lifetime of asphalt shingles is around 25 years.

Slate

Slate is one of the premium roofing material options, meaning that it’s particularly expensive. The expense of this material is reflected in its quality as slate roofing can last up to 100 years and provides resistance to mold and fungus as well as being waterproof and flame-retardant. Slate roofing is an excellent investment and has the potential to save on costly repairs in the future that other materials may present.

Metal

Metal roofing can be made from aluminum, copper, steel, or lead and can be found in an array of textures and shapes. This material offers aesthetic variety so that you can choose the perfect combination of metal, shape, and texture for your home. Metal roofing is a mid-grade material, meaning that it can be a little more pricey than shingles, though not as expensive as slate, and its lifespan lies in between the two at around 60 years on average.

A bonus tip: Many homeowners who purchased a metal roof are especially content with the calming sound of rain hitting the metal.

Cedar Shakes & Shingles

Wood shingles and shakes are typically made of cedar, redwood, or southern pine. They offer a beautiful aesthetic, are the most environmentally friendly shingles, and have a lifespan of around 30 years. They are usually around double the price of asphalt shingles.

Cedar shingles provide natural insulation and are resistant to insects and pests. They also provide a beautiful natural aroma, and are resistant to humidity.

While these are among the options for roofing materials, not every roof can effectively support each of these materials. Your roofing contractor can help to inform you which roofing materials would be the best option for your home based on local climate, the roof design, durability, and taking into account your budget.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your roofing material options, please don’t hesitate to give us a call here at Peach State Roofing.