Which Roofing Material Should I Choose?

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Which Roofing Material Should I Choose?

Your roof is unlikely to be on your mind often. But, when it comes to replacing your roof or having a roof installed for a new home, you’ll need to think through the type of roof that will be best for your home. Your roof is essential to the protection of your entire home. As a Lakewood roofing company, we’re here to ensure that your roofing system has the strength and longevity to withstand decades of use.

With so many different roofing materials available for your Lakewood home, settling on the right material for your needs can be difficult. All roofing materials differ in aesthetic, strength, lifespan, cost, and more. In this article, we’ll discuss three of the most popular Lakewood roofing materials: asphalt shingles, slate, and metal. Consider the pros and cons of these three options to help narrow your search for the best roofing material.  

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material used in residential roofing applications today. Considering the exceptional affordability and convenience that asphalt shingles provide, this isn’t surprising. 

To create asphalt shingles, fiberglass or an organic base is given a coating of asphalt and protective granules. These granules are usually made of ceramic, giving the shingles resistance to both water and the sun’s UV rays.

Asphalt shingles come in three main varieties: three-tab, dimensional, and premium. Three-tab shingles are the most basic and least expensive option. These asphalt shingles are thin and have a standard shape. Dimension asphalt shingles provide moderately more visual interest, with a layered and geometric design. Premium asphalt shingles come with the highest price tag and can be made to mimic the appearance of most other roofing materials. With premium asphalt shingles, you can achieve the aesthetic of higher-end roofing materials while keeping the convenience and affordability of asphalt roofing.  

Pros:

• Affordability
• Lightweight and quick to install
• Adequate durability against the elements
• Available in a wide range of styles and colors

Cons:

• Cracking in extremely high and low temperatures
• Fading in extremely high temperatures
• Fiberglass-based asphalt shingles require a high amount of energy to produce

Slate

Slate shingles have been used for home roofing for centuries. The exceptional durability and longevity of slate shingles never go out of style. Made from metamorphic rocks, slate roof tiles are naturally resilient. Hard slate can last between 75 and 200 years, while soft slate can last between 50 and 125 years. 

To suit all different aesthetic preferences, slate shingles can be made in any size, though the thickness of the shingles is usually standard. Typically, slate tiles are split manually. 

Pros:

• Longevity
• Unique, beautiful appearance
• Fire-resistance
• Gentle on the environment: Since slate shingles have such a long lifespan, they can typically be reused as reclaimed slate shingles. This reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills from roof replacements. 

Cons:

• Heavy: The high weight of slate shingles makes installation more difficult than other material types
• Low durability in certain weather conditions, like hail

Metal

Metal isn’t a conventional choice for residential roofing. However, it offers numerous qualities that Lakewood homeowners can benefit from. 

Aluminum and steel are both common metals used in roof installation. Both of these metals are durable and cost-effective, as well as recyclable. Premium metal roofing is also available, such as stainless steel, copper, and alloy. These metals are much pricier than steel and aluminum, but may provide a more unique appearance and greater durability. 

One of the key reasons why homeowners opt for metal roofing above the more popular choice, asphalt shingles, is environmental. Metal roofing can be recycled once it’s been used, and you can often find recycled metal roofing for your roof installation. With the recyclability of metal roofing, you can feel better about the amount of pollution and landfill waste resulting from the construction of your new roof. 

Pros:

• Recyclability
• Wind-resistance
• Fire-resistance
• Longevity: Metal roofing generally lasts between 40 and 70 years.
• Reflective: Metal roofing can reflect much of the sun’s harsh rays, helping prevent heat transfer into your Lakewood home.  

Cons:

• Roof modifications: Metal roofing is very difficult to match, making it tricky to make modifications to a metal roof. 
• Noisiness: Metal roofing is loud during storms. 

Contact All Seasons Exteriors today to learn more about roofing materials in Lakewood.