Thinking about roofing installation? Find out the pros and cons of the 4 most popular materials and let this help you decide which option is best for you.
Before you launch into your roofing installation,
make sure you understand your materials options. Here are 4 excellent materials that are highly recommended by roofers and the pros and cons of each.
Natural Slate
The best thing about natural slate is that it's beautiful. Because it's a natural stone product, it's one of the most attractive options available. Natural slate roofs also last a long time with minimal repair and maintenance needs. And because it lasts a long time, this also means that it's one of the more environmentally friendly material options.
The main disadvantage of natural slate is the cost. It's one of the most expensive options available. But again, it offers longevity, so this means you'll only have to pay the cost of your slate roofing installation once. Slate is also heavy, which makes installing it difficult. Most roofers don't really know how to do it right.
Composition Shingles
Composition shingles are probably the most popular of all your material options. The reason is its flexibility and low cost. Prices range pretty widely, but you can get quality composition shingles at very low cost. With their fiberglass mat core, they're very flexible and also somewhat fire resistant. Although the cheaper ones offer a pretty plain look, if you spend a little more you can get composition shingle that's really attractive.
The only downside of these is that they're not very durable and so don't last nearly as long as tile or metal roofs. Even though they're quite cheap, you can expect to spend some money on maintenance and repair. Also, because they're lightweight, these shingles can be carried away by high winds.
Wood Shakes
The main reason why so many people love wood shakes for their roofing installation is that this material is environmentally friendly. Most often, it's made from recycled wood. It also helps to prevent attic heat build-up and cut down on energy costs. In addition, it's quite durable and on average lasts more than 10 years longer than regular composition shingles.
However, like composition shingles, wood shakes require continuing maintenance. If the wood is not properly sealed, the weather will cause it to deteriorate. It can also get mold, mildew and insect infestations. That's the downside of using all-natural materials. It can also be quite expensive, but the pay-off is that it looks wonderful.
Metal Roofing
Metal is a great material for roofs. It can be made to look like composition shingles, wood shakes or any other material that you'd like. The best part of this material is that its durability can't be beat. Because you only need to install it once, it is considered an environmentally friendly roofing installation option. It's also fire resistant, which helps to prevent fires and keep your home safe.
The main disadvantage is cost. Metal roofing installation isn't cheap. But just like natural slate, when you consider that there is little upkeep and it has a long life, this is a good value. You do have to keep an eye on a metal roof with regular inspections because of denting and scratching.
