Roofs are an integral component of every house. You want your roof to protect your house’s interior (and the people/animals in it) from harsh weather over the years. Obviously, you don’t want rainwater getting into your house. A good working roof prevents that– water flows over shingles into gutters, goes down the downspouts and away from the house.
Roofs are usually meant to last several decades, but eventually they might need repairs or replacing, so it makes sense to know a little bit about roofing materials. That way, when you talk with roofing contractors, you’ll have an idea of what can be done to fix or change your roof.
What are some of the main roofing materials you can use for your house? Here are some…
#1 Metal Shingles And Shakes:
You can choose different metals for roofing such as aluminum, steel and/or brass. Instead of shingles, you can also opt for metal shakes for the roof. The shakes get manufactured from stamped metal and then receive heat treatment. The heat treatment ensures the perfect coating of granules over metal roofs. Besides that, you can fabricate metal shingles to have a shape like wood shakes, clay tiles, slates or asphalt shingles. All metals have high strength and durability. Metal roofing is the best option if you want to focus on both strength and appearance. The service life of a metal roof is within the range of 35 to 45 years.
#2 Clay Tiles:
As the name suggests, clay tiles get manufactured from earthen clay. The manufacturers use high-quality earthen clay in interlocking shapes. This is essential to enhance the hardness of the material/shingles. Apart from this, the tiles undergo heat treatment to increase their toughness. After the heat treatment, you will notice that the clay tiles look dull and dark. The tiles develop a reddish-brown color after proper washing and glazing. With the help of glazing and heat treatment, the clay tiles develop into ceramic roof tiles. These tiles are strong, durable and beautiful. Clay tiles work well for hot climates since they help keep the house cool. They can last a long, long time– perhaps more than a century!
#3 Concrete Tiles:
If you are looking for an alternative to clay tiles, choose concrete tiles. The manufacturing and installation processes of concrete and clay tiles are similar. Besides, both tiles have similar cooling properties. Concrete tile gets manufactured from a standard sand mix along with colored hues. During the process, you can develop different patterns of the concrete tiles. The tiles can resemble wood shakes, clay tiles, asphalt, etc. Based on customer demand, the concrete tiles get a decorative coating to enhance the curb appeal of a house. The service life expectancy of concrete tiles is more than 50 years.
#5 Slate Tiles:
Slate is a type of roofing material that offers a perfect look to a house. Slate tiles can last for a hundred years and still manage to function efficiently! It is the strength and beauty of slate tiles that encourage customers to choose them. The slate tiles will cleave off into thin sheets and later transform into a perfect roof. The installation process of slate tiles is difficult. You would need the help of professionals to install, repair or replace them. The service life expectancy of slate tiles, though, is around 200 years!
Summary:
Now you have a better understanding of various roofing materials. This will help you choose the best roofing material for your roof. There are several factors you need to consider for choosing the right roofing material. The factors include quality, rates, residential weather conditions, colors, exterior components and more. Need help selecting material(s)? Arko Exteriors handles all sorts of Minnesota roofing projects. For more information, please call Arko Exteriors of Blaine, MN, at 763-434-2756.