Roofing Materials

Roofing your house rarely rates high on the list of fun and exciting home remodeling projects. But when your home develops a leak, your attitude might take a sharp turn. Suddenly, the prospect of a dry, tightly sealed house begins to look very attractive

Not long ago, asphalt shingles, slate, clay, or concrete tiles were about the only roofing options. Today, advanced roofing materials provide an unprecedented range of alternatives, as well as new looks for existing materials.

There are many types of roofing materials to choose from, and a little bit of investigation might lead you to consider a new type of roofing rather than simply replacing with the same material you now have. Choosing the right roofing material requires that you weigh appearance, longevity, cost, and structural issues.

The best type of roof for you really depends on your climate, budget, and house. To see what’s best in your area, talk with licensed roofing contractors, and look at some of the newer developments nearby to get ideas on what type of roofing material to use.

Solar tiles

Advanced solar collectors integrate seamlessly into existing shingles, generating up to 1 kilowatt of energy per 100 square feet. They’re particularly good for sunny roofs in homeowners’ associations that forbid typical solar panels. While they may help offset energy costs with solar power, they also cost more than traditional solar options.

Built-Up Roofing (BUR)

Built-up roofing (BUR) is one of the oldest options for material for flat roofs or roofs that are very low in pitch. BUR systems are constructed with several layers of roofing felt impregnated with asphalt that is applied hot. The felt is applied in overlapping layers to form a barrier two to four layers thick, then a layer of finely crushed stone is embedded in hot tar over the top to create a very durable and impenetrable roof.

Industry surveys show that a properly installed BUR roof can last 20 to 30 years.

Built-up roofing

This heavy roofing consists of layers of asphalt, tar, or adhesive topped with aggregate and is only for flat roofs. Tar and gravel roofs, also for flat roofs, are best for roof-top decks with heavy foot traffic. These roofs may become sticky in summer, and it is harder to shovel snow off of these roofs when compared to smooth surfaces. They can last 20 to 25 years.

Rolled roofing material

is the mainstay of low-slope residential roofs as well as out-buildings like shops and sheds and other utilitarian structures. Rolled roofing consists of long rolls of mineral-impregnated asphalt-impregnated material topped with mineral granules. Each roll is about 100 square feet of roofing, about 3 feet wide.

Rolled roofing material is the mainstay of low-slope residential roofs as well as out-buildings like shops and sheds and other utilitarian structures. Rolled roofing consists of long rolls of mineral-impregnated asphalt-impregnated material topped with mineral granules. Each roll is about 100 square feet of roofing, about 3 feet wide.

Roof shingles

have been used as roofing materials for a very long time yet. Especially artificial slates have been very popular lately because of their competitive price compared to roof tiles. Natural slates are again more expensive, but they last for a lifetime and they attract less moss. The price is established according to the choice of material and the surface.

Asphalt Composite Shingles

Asphalt composite shingles are the most popular roofing material in North America. Made from a fiberglass base topped with asphalt and mineral granules, these three-tab shingles are an all-around good choice for most home roofing needs. They typically come with a 20- to 30-year warranty, and replacing individual shingles that are damaged is a fairly easy job. Virtually every roofing company is familiar with installing these singles. Composite shingles excel at flexing and adapting to a roof's movements due to expansion and contraction.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing materials in the U.K. because they’re effective in all environmental conditions.

Wood Shingle or Shakes

Wood roofs are very attractive, but they are also quite expensive and have limitations. They are not particularly long-lived, and they are a poor choice in areas that get lots of moisture or where wildfires are a danger. Still, they are among the most attractive of all roofing materials, which makes them a popular choice for luxury homes.

Wood Shakes
Wood Roof Shingles

While it might not seem like it at first glance, wood shakes roofing materials is a great choice for the environmentally friendly homeowner. Though they are made from wood, most shake roofing shingles and panels are made from renewable sources and are harvested and prepared in a way that has less impact on the environment. This is especially true if you decide to use recycled or refurbished wood for your roofing upgrade. Wood roofs are also popular among those who are straying to reduce their carbon footprint because it has little to no effect on rainwater runoff. This means there is no concern about harmful by-products getting into the soil, affecting your landscape plants, or getting into the groundwater. They are also becoming more popular because wood shake has a useful life of up to 50 years with proper care and maintenance. They are a bit costlier to install in Indianapolis, but their lifespan and lack of environmental impact, along with a stunningly rustic and beautiful finish, makes them a solid investment in your home’s roofing system.

Although both are made from natural wood, usually cedar or redwood, there is a difference between wood shakes and shingles. Shingles are typically thin, wedge-shaped slabs of wood that are produced by precise sawing. Shakes are produced by splitting and are thicker wedges with a rougher texture.

Slate Shingles

A slate roof is perhaps the finest roofing material there is—a choice for the homeowner who will accept only the finest. There are slate roofs hundreds of years old that are still functioning. True slate roofing is just as it sounds: authentic, thin sheets of real stone. Because slate has a tendency to cleave off in thin sheets, it is easy to quarry, making it ideal for roofing. But installing slate is a very specialized skill, and qualified installers can be hard to find.

Ecofriendly Green Roof

Moss is usually regarded as a bad sign on your roof, but when properly planned for, moss and other living plant materials provide an effective roofing material that gives back to the earth.

A truly unorthodox type of roof, the green or living roof nevertheless holds much promise. It can put oxygen back in the air, provide thermal insulation to your house, absorb rainwater, and even allow you to grow plants. To create a green roof, you first install a layer of waterproof membrane and provide adequate drainage. A green roof can be "intensive," meaning capable of supporting large plants and people, or "extensive," which means that it is thin and intended only for light-weight growth such as moss.

Vegetated roofs, also called ‘green roofs’, are slowly advancing. This has to do with the fact that these roofs have a few important advantages. These roofs have a longer lifespan, better thermal insulation, a nice sight and they provide a buffer for rainwater. However, the construction of a green roof is rather expensive.

A green roof can vary from minimal vegetation with sedum (extensive roof garden) to a whole garden with walkable zones, terraces, and paths

Green roofs are covered with plants and can improve air quality, reduce water runoff and insulate homes to reduce urban heat islands. However, they need extra structural support, a vapor barrier, thermal insulation, waterproofing, drainage, water filtration, soil, compost, and plants. Their estimated lifespan is 40 years.

Costs for a green roof vary widely, but this is definitely a roof for those willing to spend money to make an environmental statement. Such roofs will also require regular maintenance to keep them lasting a long time

Standing Seam Metal Roofing

The most common type of metal roof is the standing seam roof, so named because the aluminum or steel roofing panels meet in raised seams that interlock to keep moisture out. Metal roofs of all kinds are increasingly popular in regions with heavy snowfall or where there is a notable danger of wildfires since this is a roofing material that is fully fireproof.

Stone-coated steel

Interlocking panels mimic slate, clay or shingles and resist damage caused by heavy rains (up to 8.8 inches per hour), winds of 120 miles per hour, uplifting, hail and freeze-thaw cycles. Consequently, they’re an economical, effective choice for wet, windy regions or areas prone to wildfires. Some stone-coated steel roofs are warranted for the lifetime of the house.

Plastic
EPDM, PVC, or CPE:

EPDM is made of rubber. This roofing material has plenty of advantages. It is maintenance-friendly, lasts a lifetime, does not crack and is walkable throughout the whole year. It is the most expensive roofing material of the list but at the same time one of the most qualitative as well. If you are looking for roofing materials for a flat roof, this is definitely the best choice. EPDM is considered to be thé successor of traditional roofing.

These have a longer lifespan than bitumen because of their insensitivity to UV rays and other weather influences. Tests have mentioned a lifetime of at least 50 years. They also have high elasticity and they are very well protected against cracks and perforations. Moreover, there is no risk of fire as these plastics are glued or mechanically applied. Some of these waterproof layers are once again finished with a protective layer, mostly gravel. This should prevent the roofing materials from tearing in case of storms or heavy wind gusts. At the same time, this layer protects the roofing against solar UV radiation as a result of which the material’s lifespan is increased even more.

Membrane Roofing

Another choice for flat or very low-pitch roofs is a membrane roof. There are several types of the membrane that can be used, including:

Neoprene (polychloroprene)
EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer)
PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
Chlorinated polyethylene and chlorosulfonated polyethylene sheets
Polymer-modified bitumens
One of the best membranes is EPDM. EPDM is a synthetic roofing material often referred to as "rubber roofing." It is similar to rolled asphalt roofing in that it is applied in large sheets that limit the number of seams where water can infiltrate.

Synthetic (Rubber) Slate Tile

Synthetic slate shingles are a surprisingly convincing stand-in for natural slate, but this material is constructed from engineered polymers combined with recycled plastic and rubber. From the ground, it can be virtually impossible to distinguish this engineered roofing from natural slate. And synthetic slate is quite lightweight, making it a viable option for houses that cannot support the heavyweight of natural slate.

Zinc Roofing

A zinc roofing is especially applied to roofs with unconventional shapes. This has to do with the fact that zinc is a very flexible material. It is perfectly fit for round or spherical roofs. Next to that, zinc roofs have a unique appearance and they last particularly long. Moreover, they can get recycled. In the past, one would only see this roofing material on old buildings, but its popularity has increased in the past few years.