Types of Roofing Materials for Buildings

     Roofing material is an imperative factor in construction that adds value and highly contributes to the overall exterior and style of your home. The extreme climates can bring severe damages to the roofing materials. While roof framing, choose the material that can sustain the climatic changes and bring the exterior of your home to the next level.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Roofing Materials

• Always select the material according to the climatic conditions.

• The roofing material should not be too heavy if not, should be handled carefully and requires specific framing.

• It should be available in a variety of colours and styles that suits your home.

• It should offer the best performance in extreme weather changes.

• It should be durable, long-lasting and should fit in your budget level.

There are lots of options and varieties available in the market to choose, here are some of the most popular ones.

Asphalt Shingles

     These are the most common and effectively used roofing material in all environmental conditions. It is made from fibreglass reinforced with asphalt and mineral granules and excels at flexing and adapting to the roof's movements.

Asphlat Shingles

It is one of the least expensive roofing materials and has a shorter life span and provides less insulation compared to other materials.

Metal Roofing

     Metal roofs are highly resistant to extreme climatic changes. They come in two types - panels and shingles and available in aluminium, copper, zinc and stainless steel.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is a little expensive but durable and long-lasting. It is lightweight, fully recyclable and offers resistance to heavy snow, rain and winds.

Slate

     Slate is one of the first-rate roofing material and suitable for all types of weather conditions. It provides an elegant appearance to the house and comes in shades of grey, black, and purple.

Roofing with Slates

Slate offers durability, resistance to fire but expensive and requires skilled workers for installation that can be hard to find. It is the only roofing material that lasts more than 100 years without any damages.

Clay and Concrete Tiles

     Clay and Concrete tiles are very durable, that also brings texture and elegance to the roof. They are non-combustible and can withstand damages from winds, and even earthquakes also. They are well-suited in warm and dry climates such as southern coastal and desert places. They are heavy and usually require extra support to bear the weight.

Clay Tiles

Clay tiles can last up to a century. Concrete roofing tiles are energy efficient and can last up to 50 years.

Wood Shingle or Shakes

     Leaving the fact that they are quite expensive and have some limitations, wood roofs are most attractive of all roofing materials. Many homeowners love the look of wood shingles and shakes, which makes them first choice for luxury homes. 

Wood Shingles

Both wood shingles and shakes are made from cedar, redwood and southern pines and offer a rustic look to the roof. The difference is, wood shingles are of precise sawing which are thin and wedge-shaped slabs. Wood shakes are handmade and thicker wedges with a rough texture. Longevity depends on the climatic conditions, in dry climates, life span is 50 years; in wet climates, there is a chance of split and rot, and the life span is hardly 20 years.

Green Roofs

     Green roofs whereas living plant materials provide an efficacious roofing material covered with plants. It improves air quality, absorbs rainwater and also provides thermal insulation to your home.

Green Roofs

For green roofs, one should install a layer of waterproof membrane, thermal insulation, a vapour barrier, water filtration and provide adequate drainage. The roof cost may depend on the building size and requires regular maintenance to last for longer times.

Built-Up Roofing

    This type of roofing is constructed with several layers of asphalt or tar topped with an aggregate. It is one of the oldest roofing options for flat roofs.

Built-up roofing

This roof becomes sticky during hot climates and hard to shovel snow compared to smooth surfaces. Properly installed built-up roofs can last up to 20 to 25 years.

Synthetic Roofing

     Synthetic products that include rubber, plastic and polymer, developed to provide the colour and texture of natural slate or wood. These products are strong, easy to maintain and also offers resistance to fire. Not durable like natural slate and can last up to 50 years.

Synthetic Tiles

Roofing can be expensive, so make sure to select the material that depends on your climate, budget and lifestyle. We all know, there is always a chance of damage, ensure the protection when unexpected knocks your door.

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