The Four Most Common Residential Roofing Materials
There could be many reasons you might be searching for the best roofing materials for your Houston home. You may have an unresolved warranty problem and you want to find a product from a manufacturer you can trust or you may be dealing with a leaky roof and want to find the best roof replacement product during the process of repairing the problem. Regardless of the reason, you are here because you want to have a clearer understanding of what roofing materials options you have.
The Basic Roofing Materials.
The roofing materials on your home are there to shed all of nature’s elements and keep them from damaging your homes structure. Since these elements can consist of rain, snow, and even wind-driven debris it is important for you to understand that all roofing materials system are comprised of more than just the exterior that we see.
It is important to understand that every roofing system will include some form of underlayment, be it asphalt impregnated or a synthetic underlayment sheet or possibly a thin rubber membrane product to guard against ice damming as well as giving added protection in valley areas. All of these roofing materials systems will also require the appropriate accessories designed for the particular installation and the individual product.
The Top Four.
We will cover these roofing materials starting from the most economical to the most expensive and I will note that this range is based on average total installed costs.
Asphalt Shingles – Residential asphalt shingles come in a variety of styles and weights. The most basic of roofing materials are known as 3-tab asphalt shingles and are distinguished by the two rain grooves on each shingle strip. The most commonly used asphalt shingle today is referred to as an architectural or laminated shingle. These are typically a strip shingle with no grooves but with a buildup layered surface to create the appearance of a dimensional product. All modern asphalt shingles carry a “Class A” fire rating which means they may qualify for a reduced rate on your homeowners insurance.If you have heard of or been involved in any of the recent asphalt shingle problems it is valuable to know that asphalt shingles have had some warranty law suits in recent years particularly with companies that have gone out of business. Ask Monarch Roofing about the warranties offered by the manufacturers of the shingles they carry. We only use the top rated manufacturers with the best warranties.
Cedar Shakes – Residential cedar shakes have been around for over a hundred years. Split cedar shakes are characterized by their deep rich dimensional appearance. You may like the fact that one of the best properties of real cedar shakes is that cedar is naturally resistant to rot and decay. Because cedar shakes are created from natural wood the market pricing of the shakes will change with the local markets.The only real drawback to choosing a roofing materials system of natural cedar shakes is that they are a very slow to install labor intensive process. The upside is that natural cedar shakes will ultimately deliver a beautiful roof system for decades to come
Metal Roofing – Manufactured metal roofing is rapidly becoming a roofing product of choice in many parts of the country. If you are considering a metal you then you might like to know that metal roofing now comes in preformed panels that resemble shingles, cedar shakes, or even clay tiles in appearance but without the inherent problems or weight.Most residential metal roofing is manufactured in a 29 gauge thick panel that is hot dip galvanized before the finish surface is applied. All most all metal roofing carries a “Class A” fire rating which may qualify for a homeowner’s insurance deduction.
Clay Tile Roofing – Clay tile is considered by many to be the most durable and prestigious of roofing materials available. If you live in a hot or arid region then one of the most outstanding properties of clay tile is that the majority of products achieve a high enough reflective rating to qualify them for energy star. For you the homeowner this means a naturally much cooler roof which aids in helping reduce cooling costs. Clay tile roofing materials also carry a “Class A” fire rating once again a valuable consideration with your insurance company.
Now that you have new knowledge for roofing products you deem best for you, you are better prepared to research in more depth the particular products best suited for your home. Contact Monarch Roofing in Houston, TX to continue your research and questions on roofing and get an expert opinion on what would be best for your situation.
