The leading roof material types in today’s market – products for specific architectural types

If you are planning for a house renovation or constructing a new house, you can get confused about the multiple roof material types available in the market. The current roofing trends demand for specific materials to be used for meeting specific architectural styles. While you can use solar panels to make the roof, you can also have a garden built up there. With the concepts of cool roofs on the rise, there are ‘n' numbers of style you can try out with the most appealing roofing materials in the present market. Below mentioned are some of the best materials that are widely used across the globe.

1.     Asphalt Shingles

At a fair price of $70-$120 range per square, this is one of the cheapest roofing materials that can last more than 20 years with proper maintenance. It is one of the materials that goes hand in hand with multiple styles of architecture and is most suitable to be used in suburban arrangements.

Pros:

·         Available in a wide range of color variety

·         Belong to the list of the least expensive materials

Cons:

·         Short lifespan in comparison to other materials

·         No insulation provided

·         Quality may vary

2.     Tiles of Concrete and Clay

This is one of the best materials to be used for roofing options in Mediterranean, South-Western, Spanish and mission home styles. Prices may vary within a range of $300 to $500 per square of the roof and can last for a period of more than 50 years.

Pros:

·         They are non-combustible in nature

·         Lasts longer in comparison to many other roofing materials

·         In terms of energy efficiency, none can compete for concrete tiles

Cons:

·         Pretty expensive

·         Quite heavy, thus calling for additional frames

3.     Metal Roofing

The starting price for this roofing material ranges from $100 to $300 per square for the most basic styles. Prices can be as high as $800 per square based on the style. With the longevity of nearly 75 years, this material provides great taste to homes built in a cottage or contemporary styles. It is one of the best options for making cabins and bungalows.

Pros:

·         Very durable

·         Longer lifespan in comparison to wood and asphalt

·         Premium solar reflectance features

Cons:

·         Costs a lot

4.     Slate

If you are planning to build a house in a colonial style, this can be a great option. Slate even goes pretty well with French and other European style chateau homes. Though the beginning price for this material starts at around $600 per square foot, it is guaranteed to last over 50 years. With proper care and maintenance, lifespan may extend to over 100 years.

Pros:

·         One of the most durable roofing materials

·         Provides insulation against fire

·         Can be used to make sustainable roofs

·         Recycling possible as per need

Cons:

·         Very expensive in comparison to most of the other materials

·         Increased expenses due to the requirement of extra frames to support the heavyweights

·         Requires professional support for the installation procedure

·         Variation in quality when imported

5.     Shingles and Shake of Wood

Starting at a cheap range of $100 to $150 for covering each square of a roof, this material can bring in an aesthetic rustic appearance to cottages, Tudor-style houses, bungalows, Craftsman and Cape Cod. If conditions suit right, the material has a general lifespan of about 25 to 30 years.

Pros:

·         Makes provision of a rustic appearance

·         Eco-friendly product derived from southern pine, redwood or cedar

·         A special category of wood shingles available with coatings of fire-resistant materials for fire-prone areas

Cons:

·         Except for the class A category, it is prohibited to be used in areas alerted by fire codes

·         Can be heavily impacted during the wet seasons of the year

·         Can catch mold or start rotting

·         May split up due to weather conditions

6.     Synthetic materials

You can use wide ranges of various synthetic roofing materials to suit up your house. It can be used with multiple styles of architecture. With the starting range of $300 per square, lifespan can be as high as 50 years based on the constituent material.

Pros:

·         Durable and long-lasting than natural products

·         Much lighter

·         Quite cheap than many other materials

Cons:

·         Some materials are known for problems of water absorption

·         Variation in quality

·         The latest materials have not been tested against time for the lifespan

These are some of the most common and widely used roofing materials used in today’s architecture. Though there are a lot of other types of materials available in the market for roofing solutions, they are either more expensive or have shorter life spans. If you are in search of more specific roofing material, you may search up the web to know more about it.