If you’re looking to build a new home or replace your roof, there are many options available for the type of roofing material that will be used. The most common types of residential roofs are metal roofs, composition shingles, asphalt shingles, wood shake, and flat metal roofs.
1) Metal Roofs
They are metal sheets formed into panels and fastened over structural supports on a building. These metal sheets can be made from zinc alloys, aluminum, or steel. Metal roofing is not only very durable and long-lasting but it also provides great insulation as well as resistance to fire and wind damage. However, they do tend to reflect more light than other materials such as wood or asphalt shingles, therefore metal roofs are more of an energy saver than producers. Metal roofing is also very low maintenance and over time metal will wear to a soft silver-grey color that helps metal roofs blend into the surrounding environment even further.
2) Wood Shake Roofing
It is made from long pieces of thin wood cut into either squares or rectangles and laid in overlapping layers across structural supports on a building. Typically, these long pieces of thin wood are soaked in water before being cut so that once they dry out they become extremely durable. Wood shake roofs have been used for hundreds of years because not only do they provide great insulation but they can be easily repaired and they blend into the surrounding environment as well.
3) Flat Roofing
Flat metal roofs slide under traditional roofing because they reflect too much light making them energy savers. But flat metal roofs don’t have any ridges on them, therefore there is no need to overlap metal sheets across each other creating seams that water can seep into. Instead, flat roofs keep rain from coming in through metal sheets by creating channels of fine sheeting called gutters to hold rainwater.
4) Asphalt Shingles
They are made from asphalt, fiberglass insulation, felt paper and mineral granules which are all layered together to create asphalt shingles. They come in three different styles; organic felt paper, fiberglass mineral, and fiberglass mat. Felt paper asphalt shingles are the most common type of asphalt shingles found on residential homes today because they are relatively inexpensive to install while at the same time being very durable since felt paper is naturally fire resistant. Though organic felt paper asphalt shingles are affordable, not all homeowners want their roof made out of materials that contain petroleum products, therefore next in popularity are fiberglass mineral shingles which use crushed stone or pumice instead.
5) Slate Roofing
They are one of the oldest types of roofs made out of natural materials and therefore has a very distinct appearance. Slate roofs are usually comprised of shale, clay and/or sandstone layers shaped into squares or rectangles. What makes slate such a great metal roof material is that it’s fireproof, termite proof and even waterproof; making it extremely durable. And since slate roofs are so durable, they last for decades without needing any repairs or maintenance until the day comes when they have to be removed because homeowners would prefer metal roofs that do not contain poisonous chemicals like mercury and lead.
Those are some of the main kinds of roofing materials used in most residential homes nowadays. Based on the characteristics of your home and your needs, you select what different types of roofing materials that are best for your home.
