More on Roofing and Roofing Materials

What types of Roofing Materials Should you Use?

There are many roofing materials on the market, but not every material should be considered for every roof. A low sloping or flat roof may require a surface much different from roof with a steep pitch. Slate and tiles are very heavy so the structure of the home must be strong enough to handle these materials. Consider all the options to be able to choose the best options for your home.

Materials

• Asphalt shingles are the most commonly used shingle materials. Asphalt shingles are the least expensive and require little skill to install. They are made from fiberglass materials that have been impregnated with asphalt and have a surface of sandy granules. The standard single thickness is one the one used on most homes and thicker laminated produces are also available. Laminated shingles are appealing in texture and last longer than regular asphalt shingles. They are fairly expensive.
• Wood shingles was the basic choice of shingles for centuries and is still a viable option though in some areas fire codes prevent wood singles. Usually wood shingles are made of cedar, southern pine, or redwood. They are sawn or spilt and placed in patterns on a roof. They last about twenty-five years, but do cost more than twice as much as asphalt shingles.
• Metal shingles are made from copper, aluminum, steel, copper-and-asphalt, and lead. All are highly durable but very expensive. Lead and copper or copper/asphalt is installed in a shingle pattern, but other types are used for seamed roofs involving vertical lengths and linked with solder. These types of roofing materials start at $250 per square foot, but usually cost much more than that.
• Tile and cement roofing materials are customary on Spanish and Mission style homes and there are metal roofs that can replicate tile’s undulating effect. These are extremely expensive but are durable and heavy clay materials.
• Slate is the most durable of all roofing materials. Slate quality varies from manufacture to manufacturer but the best will endure longer than the clasps that actually hold slate in place. Slate is a hundred years old is often reused. Typically prices for a slate roof begin at $800 per square foot. Slate is also extremely heavy. 

When trying to determine what type of roofing materials you need, the existing roof of your home will be the major factor in determining the roofing you will be able to use. If you want to consider different options you need to consider the cost, color, weight, texture and durability. You may also want to see what is commonly used in your neighborhood.

Do keep in mind that you will also need building felt or tar paper before working with shingles, and if working with cedar, spans of furring strips will be placed across the roof. This will allow the roof to breathe. In snowy and cold areas, snow and ice shield membranes may also be laid. Keep in mind the time you will be living in your house. If you plan to sell quickly, a very expensive roof is not practical.

Roofing Materials - Terminology

Roofers generally don’t talk in terms of square feet, but rather in squares. The square is a rudimentary unit of measurement. One square is 100 square feet in range or equals 10 feet by 10 feet in dimension.  The roof of a typical house is usually 1,500 square feet or fifteen squares. 

Flashing is a part of repairing and putting on a new roof. Flashing is put on in strips to areas where different materials join together. An example is the juncture of a masonry chimney and the shingles or wherever the siding comes up to the roof line. Flashing will keep your home watertight if used were leakage is like to occur.

Image provided by Building Products of Canada Corp.

Shingles are the roof covering that consists of individual overlapping pieces. These pieces are usually flat rectangular shapes that are laid out in rows from the bottom edge of the roof to the peak. Each row overlaps the joins below. The roof point may have a cap comprising of copper or lead sheeting, but more than likely you will have a layer of shingles with a plastic layer underneath. Shingles are made from wood, asbestos-cement, ceramic or composite as well as slate and stone.

Roofing and Roofing Materials

Overview

When a new house is framed the final touch is the roof. Roofs are put on before the siding, windows or interior. Generally roofing is done within a few weeks of digging the whole, pouring the cement, and framing the walls.

Roofing materials can include asphalt, wood, plastic, clay, stone, clay tiles and wood. Roofing materials, generally known as shingles can come in rolls, strips or panels.  You can have any color or texture you want and pay almost whatever you can afford. A new roof can be constructed for as little as $.50 per square foot or as high as $25.00 per square foot.

Roofing and Roofing Materials – Different Options

There are so many different types of roofing materials to keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter. Heavier materials are suggested for warmer climates and high end building, but there are other roofing options that are equally as beautiful, durable, and cost effective.

What are different options for roofing?

Research has found that concentrations of asphalt roofs and parking lots in dense areas create an environment effect call the “heat island effect” which means heat soaking into the dark materials are use and these areas hold energy throughout the day and night. This causes high cooling costs and even higher repair costs when asphalt melts and roofs leak. To these ends different options for roofing materials are always being invented and explored. For example Italian architect Renzo Piano combines site planning with age old principles of making the land work with the environment. He uses solar and green roof in his buildings and adds recycled denim to insulation.

Living or green roofing materials are actual living plants that provide less toxic environments, water runoff to cool buildings and protection for base or under roofing. There are not many experts in growing living roofs, and the cost is high, but the theory is a great idea to help the environment and provide cooler living conditions.

Rubber membrane roofing is similar to wearing a raincoat; it keeps both moisture and heat out of the building. This type of roofing material is usually single-ply, white, rubber like roofing materials made from strong and weather resistant thermoplastic. You can also find rubber roofing made from ethylene propylene diene monomer. This type of roofing is common in commercial building and provides long wear, ease of installation, and can be applied quickly.

White flat tile roofing material is very well-suited to warm climates. It is similar to concrete tiling that can be painted in many colors. This is a lighter-weight variety of concrete tiles and the most popular color is generally the intense white flat tile made from ceramics or mixtures of cement and fibers. These tiles are reflect heat and last for up to fifty years and flat white cement tiles reflect over 75 percent of the sun’s rays. Power-washing keep the surface of the tiles from becoming dingy and losing reflective properties.
White metal roofing is highly reflective and can reflect 66 percent of the sun’s rays away from a roof.

White metal roofing cools quickly at night and holds heat for very short periods of time. It does cost about 30 percent more than traditional roofing materials, but in energy savings, low maintenance and durability it is eventually a cost saver. To maximize the benefits of metal roofing, however, treatments and installation are complicated. Most metal roofs need to be treated for corrosion and meet minimum code standards for wind resistance and placement. One very big downside of white metal roofing; the sun’s reflection off your roof can “blind” neighbors and those driving down your street.