Compare Different Types of Roofing Materials, Styles & Costs
Along with the exterior siding, the roof of your home is one of the key elements that defines its character. It’s also a key structural element, and as such it’s important to ensure that your roof remains in good condition to avoid costly repairs to other parts of your home.
Depending on the roofing material, a roof that has been installed correctly and properly maintained has a potential lifespan of up to 75 years or more, so investing in a good quality roof and taking good, regular care of it is well worth the effort.
In this section of RenoCompare we are going to explore everything the homeowner needs to know about roofing. We’ll start with a run down of the most common roofing terminology so that you are able to confidently discuss your roofing with contractors; then we’ll look at the different styles of roofing, why they might be good for your home and what potential problems might arise.
This will lead us naturally to discuss all the different types of roof materials that are commonly used in the US, including metal roofing such as steel or aluminum, slate roofing, roof shingles including asphalt, wood and fiber cement shingles, clay tiles, rubber roofing and environmentally friendly options such as a planted green roof and solar tiles.
If you are planning to completely replace your roofing, it’s important to consider all the different options both in terms of style, ease of repair/ maintenance, lifespan and overall cost in order to make an informed decision.
Finally, we’ll look at the kind of information you’ll need to get the best initial assessment of your roofing project from a professional contractor. This includes how to check the condition your roof is currently in, how to measure your roof, and what questions you should ask to ensure your roofer has adequate experience and knowledge to get your roofing repair or installation done correctly. So let’s get started!
How to speak roofing! Understanding roofing terminology.
As with many sectors of the construction industry, there is a certain amount of industry specific language that the layman might find tricky to understand. This, we have found, is particularly true of the roofing industry as the majority of people outside of that industry don’t talk about roofs that much!
So, do you know your gable roof, from your hip roof? What’s the difference between apron flashing, counter flushing and cricket flashing? And what on earth are fascia, hand-tabbing and edge venting? Read our useful roofing terminology guide to find out!
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF ROOF?
If you’re planning on building a house from scratch your architect will no doubt want to know exactly what style of roof you want. Even if you’re not self-building, knowing what kind of roof you already have will help you to identify the kinds of material you can use, should you be considering a roof replacement, and put you on the right track when dealing with maintenance and repairs.
In this part of RenoCompare’s roofing section we have an in-depth look at the three most common styles of roofing, discuss the pros and cons of each, the materials that can be used and how to keep your roof looking its best and lasting as long as possible.
ROOFING MATERIALS, COSTS & REPAIRS
Now that you know which style of roofing you have or want, you can have a closer look at the different roofing material options including metal, slate, shingles, tiles and green roofing ideas.
Roofing materials lead us inevitably to roofing costs and while each roof type and each roofing material will affect the final quote the one thing you can be sure of is that replacing or installing a roof is one of the most expensive single household projects you will undertake. Expect roofing costs to be somewhere between $6000 to $25,000 depending on roof size, type and materials.
In this part of our roofing section we look at the different roofing materials and consider their pros and cons, look at the material price and cost of roofing installation, review some of the top roofing brands and also look at roofing colors and trends.
RENOCOMPARE ROOFING COMPARISONS
In this final roofing section we do what we do best…comparisons! Whether you’re looking to compare prices on different types of asphalt roofing or simply learn the difference between one part of a roof and another then we have you covered. Is there a specific roofing comparison that you are looking for? If you can’t see it here then please email us with your question and we will endeavor to publish a new report.