If you’re planning on building a new home or re-roofing, one of the most important choices you can make is what roofing material will be used. Here are three types of shingles to consider:
- Asphalt
Asphalt shingles are the most commonly used roofing material for residential structures in North America. They are lightweight and affordable.
You may have seen the typical gray or black kind on houses in every region. But asphalt shingles are available in a wide range of colors and styles that can even mimic other materials. While premium styles cost a little more than standard asphalt shingles, this is one way to compromise on costs without sacrificing the architectural feel of your home.
- Concrete Faux Wood
Wooden shakes have been used for roofing for thousands of years, and using them gives an historical feel to any home. But wooden shakes also split and crack as they age, since wood shrinks and swells based on temperature and moisture.
However, there are concrete roof tiles that are created to look just like wood shakes, providing the same visual appeal without the maintenance a wooden roof demands. An added bonus is that there is a lower risk of fire than there is with treated wood.
- Organic
If you’re concerned about the environment, you may want to consider organic shingles. This will prevent your shingles from simply filling up a landfill when your roof is replaced.
Organic shingles are made of an organic material such as felt, waste paper or wood fiber, then saturated with asphalt and embedded with ceramic granules. Beware, though, that organic shingles are not as fire-resistant as other roofing materials.
Installing a new roof is one of the most important home repair services you’ll ever pay for, so make sure you’re choosing from qualified roofing contractors. And remember that new shingles should never be laid over an existing roof, since that can cut the lifetime of your new roof by up to 20%. Roofing repairs are expensive, so it’s a better idea in the long run to make sure you’re paying for quality roof installation.
What other home repair services do you think it’s really worth paying more for to have done right?