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Different Types of Roofing Materials

When it comes to roofing repairs, home-owners have a variety of options to select from. Each kind of roofing system has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. The one you pick ought to not only match the appearance of your home but be durable and well fit to the ecological conditions of the area, also.

Asphalt Roofs
When building a new house or replacing the roofing on an old one, you have four standard types of materials to pick from. The most common, without a doubt, is the asphalt shingle. Asphalt is a cost effective and popular option in the northeastern part of the USA because it provides great insulation against the cold weather. However, the problem with asphalt roofing is that it doesn’t last as long as other materials that are used to cover roofs. You can probably expect an asphalt roof to last about 20 years or so, before it starts to degrade.

Metal Roofs
Metal roofing, though not nearly as typical, is a pretty good choice of roof for most types of buildings. It will certainly cost more than asphalt (sometimes as much as 2 or 3 times as much), however it can easily last for over 50 years. Metal roofing is very resilient and will need fewer repairs over its lifetime. However it does have it’s own drawbacks. Aside from the price, metal roof offers hardly any insulation from the cold. This problem is often addressed by setting up a metal roofing system straight over an existing asphalt roofing system, thus maintaining the insulation qualities of the asphalt. The metal roof will act as protector of the asphalt in this case, and therefore allow the asphalt roof underneath to last longer.


Different Types of Metal Used In Roofing

Cedar Roofs
Cedar roof offers a significant quantity of insulation, but is also more costly than asphalt roof repair. Though cedar is naturally more insect and weather resistant than other wood types, it will not last long unless it is well preserved. Any individual acquainted with what happens to wood when left outdoors will understand that it takes a great deal of maintenance for it to continue to be in good condition. While cedar is probably not the best choice for homes in colder, wetter climates, its rustic and rugged great looks make it visually appealing. So while cedar is a great idea for a wood cabin. it wouldn’t be advisable to place this on a regular house.

Stone Roofs
Stone roofing such as slate or tile is extremely durable, and can last over 100 years. It looks terrific, supplies exceptional insulation and is very durable in a moisture rich and often freezing environment. The drawbacks of installing stone roofs though, is that sadly, these can be very brittle and can quickly break under moderate weight, making them difficult and expensive to deal with. Like metal roofs and cedar roofs, stone roofs can also be rather expensive to install.

Roof Installation Pricing
Depending on the size of your home, an asphalt home can cost you somewhere between $3,000 and $6,000 to add to your home. Slate and tile roof installations are typically in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. Metal roof repair and cedar roofing differ in cost, however usually expense someplace in between asphalt and stone.