Asphalt is by far the most popular choice of roofing materials in the United States. In fact, four out of every five roofs are covered in it. That doesn’t necessarily make it the best though. It gained popularity because of its relative cost-effective price and ease to install, but there are other ways to skin a cat, or in this case roof a roof. With the help of RoofGenius.com, here are three other kinds of roofing materials you can choose from when thinking about your next home maintenance project installing a new roof.
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1.) Wood: Wooden shakes as they’re called when used for roofing shingles are great because of their aesthetic appeal. They can give even the most modern looking home a natural, humble feel. The inherent discrepancies between wood even of the same type when cut and fashioned make roofs made from wooden shakes entirely unique every time. It can also help with air circulation. The downside to these roofs is the consistent maintenance and repair required. Also, you better find an expert handyman to do the job because installation is not as easy as asphalt.
2.) Concrete: Concrete tiles are still relatively new to the residential roofing market. They are usually made from fiber-reinforced cement and coated with plastics or thin metals. Concrete tiles have a long life span, offer great protection, and require very little maintenance. However, you will have to pay for the quality as they are one of the more expensive roofing materials.
3.) Metal: Metal roofs have been around for hundreds of years, but are coming back into popularity in recent years. Zinc and copper were common back in the 1700s, but today metal roofs are usually made from steel or aluminum. They can last for over 50 years with little, if any, maintenance and many times you can even get a 30% reduction on your home insurance premium because of their weather-resistant qualities. Metal roofs are also extremely energy efficient as they better insulate your house in the winter and reflect sunlight to keep the hot out in summer.
Whether you’re in the market for a completely new house, or just replacing the roof on the one you already live in think about looking into these three roofing materials instead of traditional asphalt if you want to set your house apart, while also enjoying some of the additional benefits they offer.