Roofing Materials to Consider for Your Home

Updated by July ,16, 2022

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Roofing your house rarely rates high on the list of fun and exciting home remodeling projects. However, when your home develops a leak, your attitude might take a sharp turn. Suddenly, the prospect of a dry, tightly sealed house begins to look very attractive. A beautiful new roof can
There are many types of roofing materials to choose from, and a little bit of investigation might lead you to consider a new type of roofing rather than simply replacing the same material you now have. Choosing the right roofing material requires that you weigh appearance, longevity, cost, and structural issues.

Here are roofing materials to consider when it comes time to replace your roof.

Built-Up Roofing (BUR)

Built-up roofing (BUR) is one of the oldest options for material for flat roofs or roofs that are very low in pitch. BUR systems are constructed with several layers of roofing felt impregnated with asphalt that is applied hot. Industry surveys show that a properly installed BUR roof can last 20 to 30 years.

Membrane Roofing

Another choice for flat or very low-pitch roofs is a membrane roof. There are several types of membrane that can be used, including:

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o Neoprene (polychloroprene)
o EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer)
o PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
o Chlorinated polyethylene and chlorosulfonated polyethylene sheets
o Polymer-modified bitumens

One of the best membranes is EPDM. EPDM is a synthetic roofing material often referred to as "rubber roofing." It is similar to rolled asphalt roofing in that it is applied in large sheets that limit the number of seams where water can infiltrate. Lifespan is typically 20 to 35 years when the roof is properly maintained. Depending on the quality of the shingles and the conditions, the lifespan of the roof can range from 12 to 30 years.

Standing Seam Metal Roofing

The most common type of metal roof is the standing seam roof, so named because the aluminum or steel roofing panels meet in raised seams that interlock to keep moisture out. Metal roofs of all kinds are increasingly popular in regions with heavy snowfall or where there is a notable danger of wild fires since this is a roofing material that is fireproof.
Metal roofs are very long-lived and are fully recyclable when they finally do wear out. However, installation requires special skills and not every roofing company is prepared to install a standing seam metal roof.

Metal Shingles/Shakes

For homeowners who do not like the look of standing seam metal roofs but want the advantages of metal, there, are steel or aluminum shingles or shakes now available. Made from stamped metal and finished with either a high-quality baked-on coating or mineral granules, metal shingles can be fabricated to look very much like traditional asphalt shingles, wooden shakes, or even slate or clay tiles. They are an excellent choice where appearance is a critical concern.

Wood Shingle or Shake

Wood roofs are very attractive, but they are also quite expensive and have limitations. They are not particularly long-lived, and they are a poor choice in areas that get lots of moisture or where wildfires are a danger. Still, they are among the most attractive of all roofing materials, which makes them a popular choice for luxury homes.
Although both are made from natural wood, usually cedar (typically found on Cape Cod-style homes) or redwood, there is a difference between wood shakes and shingles. Shingles are typically thin, wedge-shaped slabs of wood that are produced by precise sawing. Shakes are produced by splitting wood and they are thicker wedges with a rougher texture. Longevity depends very much on circumstances and maintenance.

Clay tiles

Clay tile is made from earthen clays molded into rolled or interlocking shapes and fired for hardness. It is often left unglazed, with the characteristic reddish-orange color; It is a very good roofing material for hot climates or where salt air is present, this is why these roofs are seen so often in southern coastal regions or desert regions. Tile is an expensive roofing material; it can last more than a century. Concrete tile is an alternative to clay tile, with similar installation techniques and similar advantages. They are moulded from standard sand-mix concrete colored to whatever hues are desired.

A variety of profiles are available, some of which resemble rolled clay tiles, others that are low-profile resembling wood shakes. Concrete tile is sometimes finished with a decorative coating. Life expectancy is 50 years or longer. A slate roof is perhaps the most beautiful roofing material there is—a choice for the homeowner who will accept only the finest. There are slate roofs hundreds of years old that are still functioning. True slate roofing is just as it sounds authentic, thin sheets of very stoneHowever, installing slate is a highly specialized skill, and qualified installers can be hard to find.

Synthetic (Rubber) Slate Tile

Synthetic slate shingles are a surprisingly convincing stand-in for natural slate, but this material is constructed from engineered polymers combined with recycled plastic and rubber. From the ground, it can be virtually impossible to distinguish this engineered roofing from natural slate. And synthetic slate is quite lightweight, making it a viable option for houses that cannot support the heavy weight of natural slate. Although not as durable as true stone, synthetic slate usually comes with a very good warranty up to 50 years.

To create a green roof, you first install a layer of waterproof membrane and provide adequate drainage. A green roof can be "intensive," meaning capable of supporting large plants and people, or "extensive," which means that it is thin and intended only for light-weight growth such as moss.2
Costs for a green roof vary widely, but this is definitely a roof for those willing to spend money to make an environmental statement. Such roofs will also require regular maintenance to keep them lasting a long time.

Source: Joycelyn Marigold - PE Magazine