The Five Most Common Roofing Materials and Their LifeSpan

The Five Most Common Roofing Materials and Their Lifespan

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Some of the most important considerations you have when replacing or building a roof is what material to use, how much will it cost, and the roof’s lifespan. Quality materials used in roofing usually lead to more expenses. But, a better way to look at your roofing project is quality materials lead to a roof’s long lifespan.

Almost every weather condition nature throws at roofs has an impact on the roof’s lifespan. The roof’s color, material, design, and location all play strong roles that can affect the roof’s durability. Even when you use maintenance-free roofing material, you may still need to perform maintenance, and even do small repairs on it from time to time. But there are roofing materials that have long lifespans and reasonable costs. The guide below gives you information on the five most commonly used roofing materials.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are one of the most common roofing materials used on buildings and homes because of their low cost. Asphalt shingles usually offer a guaranteed life span, which also makes them very popular. Asphalt shingles are used by countless major corporate buildings and on residential homes throughout the United States and Canada. There are also three different types of asphalt shingles you can use on your roof.

  • Dimensional shingles – these are called laminated shingles most of the time
  • 3-tab shingles
  • Luxury shingles

The added characteristic wanted and needed the most with asphalt shingles is lamination. Laminated asphalt shingles are engineered to resist storm winds, rain, sleet, snow, sun, and natural degradation caused by being outside exposed to weather elements. The cost for asphalt shingles ranges from $65 square foot to over $300 square foot. On average, to install the roof you will pay around $2.25 per square foot.

Composite

Manufactured composite shingles can be reinforced with recycled materials or fiberglass, and will still look the same. The recycled process makes composite shingles eco-friendly, which is very popular. Composite shingles last about twenty years, but you should never use composite shingles as your roofing material if you live in a high wind impact area.

Composite shingle roofing is the most popular of all roofing materials, found on more than 80 percent of all homes. Composite shingle’s popularity comes from its relatively low cost and long lifespan. Remember, these are engineered shingles, so no matter what color or material you want your roof to look like it can be done. Their fifty-year long lifespan adds to the roofing materials’ popularity. Composite shingles’ average cost ranges from $5.75 to around $14.00 per square foot installed.

Tile

Sometimes it is puzzling as to why people want tile roof material due to its high-cost. Tile roofs are known for their beauty. They can last up to 100 years, so their durability and lifespan are without question one of the best roofing materials you can use. But it’s important to take note that tile roofs use mortar bed systems most of the time. By being set on mortar bed systems they tend to fall and gap.

The component that makes up tile roofing material is made of terracotta most of the time. The terracotta is very heavy and also fragile. But terracotta is popular because they retain their color for decades or sometimes a hundred years or more. Tile roofs are fire resistant and in the world of roofing, are considered at only a mid-level cost roofing product. Tile roofs can cost anywhere from $800 per square foot to install. They sometimes can go as high as $1000 per square foot. Because they require expert installation your installation costs will be between $100 – $150 per square foot.

Slate

When slate is used correctly as a roofing material there is not much that can compare to its beauty. Slate roofing material’s lifespan can be as high as seventy-five years. Slate is a more sophisticated roofing material than tile but similar in weight constraints. Slate needs sturdy and expertly installed fasteners and nails. Slate roofs are eco-friendly and come in any color you want. Unfortunately, slate roofing material is known for its expense. It will cost you five times over what an asphalt shingle does. What’s more, finding an expert slate roof installer can be challenging depending on where you live.

The average cost of an experienced slate roof installer charge is around $5.00 per square foot. The slate tile material has an average cost of about $5.00 – $6.00 per square foot depending on if you are using a popular or rare color and pattern. Slate roofs are a worthy investment because it adds value to your home and is one of the most beautiful roof styles.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is common and popular as a roofing material because it is versatile. Once your fiberglass roof is glazed, it’s also water and shatterproof. Fiberglass roofs remain strong and have a long lifespan. Fiberglass roofs are sold in sheets or panels. Uniquely, they are resistant to rust or mildew and should last about thirty years.

Fiberglass shingle costs average around $40 – $200 per square foot, and for installation, an additional $80 – $200 per square foot is needed. It’s important to note, fiberglass and asphalt shingles are very similar, but there are characteristic cost and durability differences. Fiberglass is more sturdy than asphalt shingles, and you can see the difference between the two through their cost.

Final Consideration Before Getting a New Roof

Your final consideration before getting a new roof should be in what kind of climate will it be in? You want your roof to fit in with the weather factors which surround you. Some other things to remember before you purchase a new roof needs to include:

  • Expert and experienced roof installation
  • The roof’s life span
  • The roof’s cost per square foot
  • Maintenance demands for the roofing material selected
  • Roof warranty

When you need answers for the above questions or more information about the roofing material you’ve selected, reach out to Roofing Architects. They have the experience, knowledge, and information you need to make your roofing selection one that brings you comfort and satisfaction for many years.

Five Innovative Roofing Designs You Need to Know

Five Innovative Roofing Designs You Need to Know

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You may be an artist, an environmentalist, a roofer, or a business person. It doesn't really matter what you do because it's always been about how you believe in and do your work. You want an innovative roofing design that's different, but functional. You want a roof design that looks great but doesn't cost a fortune. Most of all, you want an innovative roof design others may want once they see what you've created.

What Is Innovative Roofing Design?

Innovative roofing design is defined by where you live in the world. For instance, if you live in Malaysia, an innovative roofing design delivers cool natural light from a roof built to help deflect and reduce heat. That's the crux of the problem in describing innovative roofing design. Because innovative roofing design is all about who is defining it and not what it firmly is. Some people think of innovative roofing design as sustainable roofs that help give your home or commercial building heat when its cold or coolness when it's hot outside. Also, sustainable roofs are innovative sometimes because they are capable of producing clean energy.

History of Innovative Roofing Design

Innovative roof designs were once dependent on what region they were in. The Southwest became famous for the clay tiles used in Spanish Colonial innovative designs for homes and roofs. The Appalachians were partial to innovative roofing designs using slate. Anywhere in the northern states showed creativity in their innovative design roofs made of wood shakes that were cut from their own trees.

In today's market, premium roofing materials need to be able to conserve energy, have reduced weight, and embrace green construction methods if at all possible. That's because roofing material sees 11 million tons of waste generated in the U.S. per year. Re-roofing jobs using recycled roofing material account for 10 million tons, and roofing has one of the highest recycling rates of any industry.

Five Innovative Roofing Designs Today

There are as many innovative roofing designs available as there are ideas. But some of the most beneficial and interesting are listed below:

1) Stone Coated Metal Roofs

Stone-coated metal roofs look like shingles, wood shakes, clay tile, and almost anything else you need for them to look like. They have what's called a deep, architectural profile. Deep architectural profiles mean something meets what the architects want or need but also meets the need of the environment or health. This roof is innovative in look, style, and design, and what's more the warranty lasts up to fifty years. This roof can withstand wind, hail and even fire. The stone-coated metal is corrosion free, and most of the time, it is installed over wood or battens, so air channel pockets exist between the roof deck and roof itself. A benefit to the air pockets is it keeps your home or building cool in the summer and contains heat in the winter.

2) Solar Shingles

Solar shingles look like tempered glass and perform like conventional shingles. Solar shingles are even installed the same way as regular shingles most of the time. Not only do solar shingles look sleek and tight, but they also create electricity for you. If there's a sun in the sky, solar shingles are storing and creating electricity for you to use when needed. It is literally the only roof material that pays for itself from the day it's put on your roof.

3) Asphalt Shingles

One of the most economical roof materials to produce fiberglass asphalt shingles are one of the most popular roofing materials around. The asphalt shingles are made of a woven fiberglass base mat that's covered with a waterproof asphalt coating. On top of the coating you put ceramic granules that deflect UV rays. One of the coolest options about asphalt shingles is they are available in almost any style and color. It doesn't matter what your home's architectural look is or will be; there are asphalt shingles with your name on it.

4) Composite Shingles

You get the best of both worlds when you have composite shingles because they combine the look of slate, tile, or wood shake. Composite shingles are far more affordable than slate, tile, or wood shake roofs because they're made from poly-based products. The poly-based roofing product is lightweight and doesn't fade. It's also warrantied up to fifty years and is fire safe. There's even been historic homes and commercial buildings that chose to use composite shingles due to their low cost and great quality.

5) Clay or Concrete Tiles

Tile roofs made of concrete or clay can last centuries. The roof is made up of individual tiles molded into barrel shapes. The barrel shapes interlock to each other as you install them. The only concern you should have is can your commercial building or house withstand their weight? Because these tiles can last for centuries there is nothing not made to last in them so they can be very heavy as an aggregate amount of weight for a building.

When you're ready to move forward with the roof you are creating with your innovative design, or if you use a roof design listed here there is a great place to start. Reach out to the Roofing Architects that can make your roof come alive with the innovation you want, the color you create, with a price you can afford.

Almost every roof today can deliver benefits in energy efficiency and helping the environment. Today's market offers so many options, and everyone should consider alternative roofing material with conventional materials when making their roofing decisions. You never know when you might be more impressed with the unconventional product over the been there and done that conventional material roofs that are available.