Roofs Of Choice

by Kim Kinrade

Except for the structure of your home nothing is as important as a good, tight roof. You can get by for a while without siding, and you can put plastic or boards on the window, but a home cannot survive long without a water-tight covering overhead. Soon moisture would be getting into the walls both damaging the interior and providing a breeding ground for mold. And this is without mentioning the ruining of personal possessions and furniture.

Like any other building products roofing comes in wide variety of styles and materials depending on what part of the country you live. Where heavy rains are not the norm, like in the American southwest, clay tile roofs are prominent as they provide a great barrier against the sun which helps out the air conditioning system. In Montana you are more likely to find metals roofs which are light and adept at shedding the large amounts of snow that could weigh down and even crush a normal roof. Whereas in the Seattle area you might find asphalt or cedar, a wood that is readily accessible, cheap and will last a lifetime.

Unless you are just covering a shed or dog house roofing should be delegated to qualified roofing installers because it is a specialized trade which requires experienced crews who know how to do the work high above the ground. Roofing installers also have specialized safety equipment and other handy tools like a roof shingle conveyor which carries the bundles of shingles up to the roof like an escalator. This minimizes the chance of an accident which can occur when carrying heavy loads up a ladder. In addition professional roofers know how to "flash" around chimneys and how to properly handle valleys and roof ridges.

Types of Roofing

Asphalt Shingles

The most common shingle on the continent is the asphalt. This is because they are the least expensive option out there for a typical gabled roof, coming in at about $45 to $60 per square (a square is a standard roofing measurement, equal to 100 square feet) if you bought them yourself. However, at 15-30 years they don't last as long as other types and their longevity depends on weather, sun, fungus growth and, of course, the installation method.

The traditional 3-tab asphalt shingle comes in a wide variety colors including types with rounded or irregular edges. There are different versions which can also stand up to a wide range of destructive forces like high-winds, moss, mold, sun and algae growth. Almost all asphalt shingles use a fiberglass matt as the forming agent which is soaked in asphalt,. The raw shingle is then pressed with ceramic granules which set the color of the shingle and protect it from ultraviolet ray damage from the sun. The downside with fiberglass as a base is that it can get brittle in cold weather but they stand up well in hot conditions.

Laminated Shingles

These are also called "architectural shingles" and are actually multiple layers of the normal asphalt ones. Because they are layered they give a three-dimensional appearance like wood shakes or slate. Of course because each shingle uses more material, they are more expensive than three-tab shingles coming in at about $90 a square. They also last longer which is a big plus.

Metal Roofing

The early metal roofs were corrugated steel which lost their galvanized coating over time and rusted. Although looking shabby, they still lasted a long time before they rusted through. Aluminum roofs were big in the west for their quality of shedding snow. Most of these were unpainted and the homes, although well-roofed, were unsightly.

In recent times new powder coating techniques have made both steel and aluminum great looking roof options. They are light, deflect heat and last longer than their asphalt cousins. Metal roofing usually comes in long strips which are attached longitudinally on a raised ridge. It can be installed right over old asphalt roofing. Aluminum roofs also come in the form of interlocking shakes which can with stand hurricane-force winds.

Copper is very expensive and used mainly for institutional and historic buildings.

Tile and Cement

Dating back to the days of the Spanish colonies clay tile roofs are a mainstay in many areas of the country. It is heavy and the pitch of the roof and the truss strength will determine whether or not you can have this roof on your home. Clay tiles are around $300 a square and come is a wide varity of colors and styles.

Cement tiles are made from cement and aggregates for strength. These also come in a variety of colors and are slightly cheaper than clay tiles ($100-200 a square).

Slate

One of the most long-lasting, and prestigious, roofing materials is slate. This stone has been covering roofs in the nation for as long as the country has existed and is almost indestructible. However, it is very expensive (up to $1000 a square) because of cutting expenses, transportation costs and installation concerns – and because there are few contractors who specialize in slate. Like tile and cement tiles it is also extremely heavy which means in some cases the roof must be braced. But you will never have to replace your roof again.

Whatever your roofing choice consider your home and how long you plan to spend there. As well, remember that a quality roof may cost more but it will add to the resale value of your home.