Best Roofing Material for Your Home

When looking for the best roofing material for your home you’ll find lots of options. It can be daunting. There are so many choices it can make your head spin.

Choosing the material for that big ticket job on your house will depend on your budget and the type of home you live in.

Here you’ll find answers about the most common type of roofing material, the best roofing material for a low pitch roof and the best roofing material for a hurricane and other things you may not have even considered.

After reviewing your options you’ll be able to breathe a little easier and be on your way to making an educated decision when it comes to your new roof.

Most Common Type of Roofing Material

Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing material you’ll see in most every neighborhood because it’s the most affordable new roof you can put on your home. Asphalt shingles come in a wide variety of styles and prices.

The typical three-tab shingle is made of an asphalt covered fiberglass mat with ceramic granules embedded in the asphalt to protect the asphalt from the sun. They come in a plethora of colors and are fairly easy to install. Most manufacturers guarantee the shingles for 30 years and some up to 50 years.

If the most common type of roofing material sounds… too common, there are other choices. Ceramic or concrete tile, wood shingles or metal are all options. Some of the high end asphalt shingles have a look similar to wood and slate and have even been approved by some historical preservation committees.

Before making a decision, consider driving around so you can see what the other roofs look like in your neighborhood. Some may have a tile roof, wood or metal. If they all have asphalt roofs you may want to stick with the theme.

While you’re on reconnaissance take the time to see if a color stands out in a good way or a bad way. Sometimes blending in is a good thing and can also be a benefit when you sell your home. Plus it’s a very costly job and if you don’t like it after the roof is installed you’re going to be stuck with it.

Other Types of Roofing Material

If you like the look of a wood roof you’re not alone. The hand cut shingles, also called shakes, are more rustic and have been around forever. Machine cut wood shingles have a cleaner, more modern look. Both are excellent choices if you have a Tudor style or historic home. They come in different types of wood, thus different colors.

Wood roofs last decades with proper maintenance but do cost more than asphalt shingles. Check with your homeowners insurance before considering a wood roof as that can add considerable cost to your policy. If you live in an area that’s prone to wildfires they may not even insure a wood roof.

If you’re looking for the best roofing material for a low pitch roof there are several to consider. Often this type of roof is barely visible from the street level. Although they may look flat they have a small pitch of near an inch for every 12 inches of slope.

Tar and gravel, also known as a built up roof uses several layers of asphalt paper rolled out in tar, topped with tar and then with gravel to hold down the tar paper.

Modified Bitumen is a heavy roll of tar based material that is rolled out as it is torched down to the low pitch roof over a non flammable surface. It’s extremely durable, weather resistant and not difficult to install. You have to make sure your seams line up exactly when you start the second role or you’ll be in trouble. If you are a serious DIY person get a permit or your nosy neighbor might call the fire department on you when she sees you wielding a torch on your roof.

You may also want to consider a standing seam metal roof. Back in the day you only saw metal roofs on out-buildings such as sheds and barns. Times have changed and not only do they make beautiful metal roofs but they are the toughest roof out there withstanding all the elements and can last for 50 years. A metal roof can be used on a nearly flat roof of under an inch of pitch to very steep roofs. A metal roof is the best roofing material for a hurricane so if you are in a hurricane prone area this is a serious consideration.

Clay tile or concrete tile roofs have a romantic feel and can last centuries. They are half barrel shaped and interlock together. More expensive than an asphalt shingle but have a whole different feel to them. The most important thing aside from cost when considering a tile roof is the weight. Check with a structural engineer to make sure your roof joists will support tiles.

There are so many options when choosing the best roofing material. Remember to consider the type of neighborhood you live in. The budget you have for this high dollar project and the look of the roof you want to see when you pull up in front of your house everyday.