Roofing Installation PROFESSIONAL RESIDENTIAL HOUSE ROOFING

Asphalt, fiberglass, composite – easily the most popular material, used by almost 90% of US homes. It is quite durable and relatively affordable. The pros are: they are easy to source, require low maintenance, are recyclable, work in most climates and come in various colours and are quite affordable ($1.50 – $5.50 per sq. ft.). The cons are: they have a shorter service life (up to 30 years), the colour fades with sun exposure and wind damage is possible.

Sheets and shingles – the material is durable, survived the test of time (metal roofing has been installed since 1800s). It is very durable and has a long service life. The pros are: it is durable (up to 80 years), require low maintenance, can come painted or be painted, is lightweight and recyclable. The cons are: it comes more pricey ($6 – $14 per sq. ft.), needs soundproofing, requires a more costly maintenance and installation and may warp with time.

The wooden roof has one of the best aesthetics. The wooden roofing is quite durable, but its lifespan depends heavily on the climate – it fairs best in dry climates, but requires anti-fire treatment in California. The pros are – the aesthetics, relatively affordable ($5 – $7 per sq. ft.). The cons are – treated lumber is difficult to recycle, it’s more prone to water damage, mold and termites and relatively high maintenance costs.

One of the oldest and most aestetically pleasing material used. It is the most durable, but quite expensive to install and maintain. The pros are: it is incredibly durable, can withstand high wind speed, works extremely well in hot climates and has the best appeal. The cons are: high installation cost ($10 – $18 per sq. ft.), expensive maintenance, requires stronger support due to heavier weight and can be damaged by impact.

Combines the durability of clay tiles, while being much more impact resistant. The pros are: incredibly long lifespan (50-200 years), low maintenance cost, durability and more colour options. The cons are: relatively high cost ($9 – $20 per sq. ft.) and it requires stronger support due to heavier weight.

One of the most flexible roofing materials that can be installed on almost any building. It is much more affordable, albeit needs a much more frequent maintenance. The pros are: very affordable cost, almost no structural constraints, works for low-slope roofs. The cons are: frequent maintenance (once in 5-10 years), would not work on the flat roof and offers lower quality compared to other roofing materials.

Although mostly used for commercial real-estate and aims aesthetics, there are great benefits such as combating the heat.

A great solution to protect your house and generate electricity at the same time. Discover more about solar roofing.

Some roofing materials may be cheaper, but require more frequent and costly maintenance (e.g. rolled roofing). A good sign is when the company performing the roofing installation offers these maintenance services. You need to understand whether the material benefits justify the cost of maintenance and vice-versa – if lower costs justify the lack of those benefits.

Some roofing materials and shapes are more difficult to work with, resulting in higher labor costs. Usually you will not know this judging by the material sticker price, therefore talking to an expert is very important. You need to factor in that any repair or maintenance will also result in a higher cost resulting from this difficulty.

A classic approach is to save money by cutting the labor costs. If the roofing material and the maker are the same, why pay more, right? Unfortunately cutting corners may result in very costly roofing repairs, leaks and maintenance. You may want to track the construction company’s certifications and the number of finalised roofing installation projects.