What Questions Should I Ask a Roofing Contractor before Hiring
In this article If you are planning on replacing or adding a new roof to a building project, you’ll need to find a roofer, contractor,
What Kind of Roofing Is Best for Your House?
- By: Marshall Highet
- 10/05/2021
In this article
The type of roof you choose to top your home depends on several key factors. To select your perfect roof, assess the pitch and style of your roof, the price of the material you choose, and its durability.
The climate in which you live also plays a part in what material will last longest and be most cost-effective, as well as being the right weight for your house. Here are some more details about how to decide which roofing material is best.
Pitch of Your Roof
The steeper your roof, the more versatility you have; the flatter your roof, the more careful you need to be. If you use a material like shingles on a flat roof, water has ample opportunity to become trapped underneath all the layers and joints, causing rot, mildew or structural problems. For flat roofs, sheet metal or PVC works best.
If you have a steep roof, you have less cause for concern — and you have more options. Your roofing materials can include asphalt shingles, cedar shake, clay tiles, metal sheeting, slate, or concrete tile. After figuring out how your choice of roof material is affected by the way your roof is built, you can turn to other factors like durability and cost to determine what will work best in the end.
Good to Know
Certain roof materials will last longer than others, and this factor greatly depends on your climate.
Durability
Certain roof materials will last longer than others, and this factor greatly depends on your climate. Clay tile and slate both last longest, at 50 to 70 years; metal lasts a long while too, from 40 to 60 years; and cedar and asphalt shingles will last anywhere from 15 to 30 years before you have to replace them.
If you live in the Southwest, the high, dry heat makes the environment inhospitable to all roofing except slate, concrete or metal. In colder climes, metal is a good choice, but it has to be installed correctly to avoid the dreaded “oil can” wavy effect. Shingles are the most versatile and the most affordable roofing material.
Cost
When considering how much you’ll be spending on your new roof, there’s what the material costs, and then there’s how much specialized labor it needs to install it.
At around $12 ft2, slate will put you back the most, whereas asphalt shingles cost about $2 ft2. Asphalt shingles are also easy to replace. Concrete shingles are another great choice at $2.50 ft2 with cedar shake shingles, $4.50 ft2, and metal sheeting at $6 ft2 rounding out the middle.
It can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $45,000 to replace your roof, depending on square footage, the pitch of your roof, and how durable you need it to be. The ease of replacement is also crucial, as it’s miles easier to replace a single asphalt shingle than to get a new metal sheet for your roof.
Final Thoughts
If you have a significant construction project like a new roof looming, you have a lot of work ahead of you. Before the first shingle goes down, you need to pick a roofing material that fits your budget, pitch, and climate. Possibly the most crucial decision you will make in the construction process, foreknowledge is everything when it comes to the best roofing material for your home. And the right roofing services professional can help to steer you toward the best roofing material for your home. To connect with high-quality roofers in your area, contact At Home Pros today.
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