A roof’s design and style, along with its materials and functionality, can make a big impact on the look of a home. There are a variety of roofing types, styles and designs to choose from.
The slope of the roof, local climate and budget are all factors when choosing the best type of roofing for your home.
Metal
Metal roofing is available in a wide range of colors, textures and styles for both low- and steep-slope applications. Products can mimic the appearance of shingles, clay tile or cedar shakes and are often more affordable than asphalt shingle roofs. They’re also more durable and fire-resistant.
Many types of metal are galvanized or zinc coated to help resist corrosion. Corrugated galvanized steel is a common choice, but newer formulations blend zinc with aluminum and silicon-coated steel (Zincalume or Galvalume) to provide superior weather protection. Metal can be mechanically seamed together, joined with concealed fasteners or welded to achieve greater structural strength and durability.
While metal roofs are a familiar sight on barns and sheds, today’s products can work with nearly any architectural style. They’re also energy efficient: metal reflects radiant heat from the sun, minimizing midday solar gain and helping a building owner save on air conditioning costs. The thermal break between the roof deck and formed metal also helps to reduce the load on a building’s insulation.
Wood
Wood shingles and shakes were one of the original natural roofing materials, along with thatch and stone. The wood species, color, and grain cut are all factors that influence how a roof looks. There are also different wood shingle sizes, including standard 3/8” shingles and jumbo 5/8” shingles. Wood shingles can be treated to resist fire, fungus, and other threats.
Cedar is a popular choice for wooden shingles, offering natural preservatives that offer protection from UV exposure and water damage. This material is also resistant to shrinking and swelling, which makes it a good choice for humid climates.
Other types of wood shingles include pine and spruce. These options have a lighter coloring and are less durable than cedar, but they still provide an attractive aesthetic for homeowners who want to maintain a traditional look. Wood shingles and shakes are a great option for anyone who wants to protect their home from inclement weather and enjoy the natural beauty of real wood. This roofing is also easy to repair and replace if needed. It is important to note that wood can be more susceptible to fire than other roofing materials, so it may not be the best choice for homes in wildfire-prone areas.
Clay Tiles
Clay tiles have a traditional look that complements Mediterranean and Spanish-style homes. They’re also fire- and insect-resistant. These durable tiles are shaped from terra-cotta clay and coated with a glaze before being fired in high-temperature kilns. The glazing prevents the color from fading.
Unlike other roofing materials, clay tiles can be broken, which is why they must be handled and installed by a professional. However, they’re very easy to repair and can last for over 100 years if properly maintained.
These tiles are very heavy, which means they’re not recommended for every home. Before laying them down, your home needs to be evaluated by a structural engineer to ensure it can support the weight of these gorgeous roof tiles. They’re also expensive, but their durability and longevity outweigh the initial cost. In addition to their longevity, clay tile roofs can save you money on energy bills. They allow air to circulate, which helps regulate your home’s temperature. Additionally, they’re resistant to rot, mold, and mildew. They’re also eco-friendly and require less maintenance than asphalt shingles.
Slate
Slate roofing is beautiful and long-lasting. It may last up to 200 years, making it an attractive choice for homeowners who don’t want to have to re-roof their homes multiple times over the course of their lifetimes. Slate is also fire-, fungus-, mold- and temperature-resistant.
The most popular type of slate is natural metamorphic stone, which comes in a variety of colors, shades and textures. It can be cut into shingles that are used as roof coverings, or sliced into sheets and bonded together for use in flooring and blackboards.
The biggest downside of slate is that it’s expensive, especially when compared to asphalt shingles. It’s also very heavy, so if you’re replacing an existing roof with slate, the structure of your home will need to be strengthened to accommodate the weight. Slate is also difficult to install, so you’ll likely need to hire a specialty roofing contractor. It’s also not suitable for every home, because it can be damaged by hail. It is also often prone to cracking, so it’s important to inspect your slate roof regularly for signs of damage or wear.
Asphalt
The roofing material of choice for most homeowners, asphalt shingles are designed to protect your home from the elements without sacrificing style. Available in a wide range of colors and styles, these shingles can complement any architectural design and work well with most roof structures.
Strip shingles are the most basic type of asphalt shingle. These shingles have a regular three-tab appearance and can offer a variety of textural effects, depending on the number, size and alignment of the cutouts. This shingle is the most affordable option, and is commonly used by home builders on inexpensive homes.
Dimensional shingles have two layers of shingle material bonded together, giving them a thicker and more textured appearance. Also known as architectural shingles, this type of shingle offers the benefits of higher durability and warranty protection than regular strip shingles.
Premium shingles have the same two-layer construction as dimensional shingles, but are engineered to replicate the aesthetics of more expensive roofing materials, such as cedar shakes and slate tiles. These shingles can be very durable and provide excellent wind resistance and hail resistance.