6 Highly Popular Roofing Materials for Your Home

By Pro.com

Your roof is arguably the most important part of your home, which means you need to build it well and treat it with love. Experts recommend that you inspect your roof two times a year, and replace it anywhere from 20 to 100 years, depending on how it is constructed.

(Credit: Dimedrol68/Shutterstock)
(Credit: Dimedrol68/Shutterstock)

Whether you’re building your house from scratch or simply looking to renew an old roof, here are six of the most common materials to consider.

1. Asphalt/Composite

Asphalt or composite shingles are the most popular among roofing material options. Created with a fiberglass mat that is then topped with mineral granules and asphalt, these “three tab” shingles are durable and practical, often available with two or three decade warranties. Composite shingles can be installed quickly and can easily be replaced and/or repaired.

(Credit: Ken Schulze/Shutterstock)
(Credit: Ken Schulze/Shutterstock)

2. Tile

Tile roofing is commonly used on Mission or Spanish Colonial style homes. Typically made out of clay or ceramic, this material is heavy and difficult to install, but incredibly durable. Tile roofing comes in a wide range of colors and although it is on the expensive side, is well worth the investment given its longevity.

(Credit: Cher_Nika/Shutterstock)
(Credit: Cher_Nika/Shutterstock)

3. Wood

Wood roofing is usually made out of pine, redwood or cedar. And while it can thrive in virtually any climate, wood roofing needs regular maintenance and usually has only a 25-year life expectancy. Wood roofing is fairly high maintenance to install and while not as pricy as some materials, can still cost a pretty penny.

(Credit: Tom Grundy/Shutterstock)
(Credit: Tom Grundy/Shutterstock)

4. Slate

As a natural stone, slate is both a beautiful and practical option for your roof. Extremely durable and with the ability to last up to 100 years, slate is also one of the more expensive roofing materials and can be incredibly difficult, costly and time-consuming to install.

(Credit: JLS24/Shutterstock)
(Credit: JLS24/Shutterstock)

5. Rolled

Rolled roofing is used in many residential buildings that have low slopes like a workshop or shed. As the name suggests, rolled roofing comes in 100 square feet rolls, each three feet wide. Rolled roofing is even cheaper than asphalt/composition and is the fastest way to get the job done.

(Credit: hans.slegers/Shutterstock)
(Credit: hans.slegers/Shutterstock)

6. Metal

Metal roofing has hit the mainstream home improvement market as a fairly cheap, rugged, long-lasting and above all, attractive material. Like tile and slate, metal roofing is resistant to fire and most all weather, which makes it the perfect material for homeowners living in areas with extreme temperatures. Another plus is that metal roofing is resistant to wood boring insects like carpenter ants or termites and as such, usually lasts up to 50 years.

(Credit: Vladimir Mucibabic/Shutterstock)
(Credit: Vladimir Mucibabic/Shutterstock)
 
 

Pro.com is a website founded in 2013 by service industry entrepreneurs and former Amazon executives to simplify home services -- especially research on contractor fees and qualifications.

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