TYPES OF ROOFING
PITCHED ROOFING
Metal Roofs
Metal roofs are ideal for homes that feature a steep or flat roofline. Homeowners who opt for a low-galvanized metal will find that metal roofs are extremely cost efficient. This roof’s affordability is one of the main reasons why it has become so popular. Don’t worry about your metal roof’s lifespan. It will likely last around half a century.
Tile Shingles
Tile shingles are favored by those who are concerned with curb appeal. Homeowners who have Spanish or Mediterranean flair along their home exterior will immediately fall in love with tile shingles. They provide an idiosyncratic visual appeal that has the potential to last for 80 years or longer. You’ll be hard pressed to find a shingle that lasts longer.
Asphalt Shingles
The asphalt shingle is the most popular roof shingle.
It is low-cost and fully compliant with Energy Star requirements for the “cool roof” rebate. In general, roofers consider asphalt shingles to be of good quality. Though they are somewhat thinner than other shingles, asphalt shingles are quite durable. You can expect asphalt shingles to last between two and three decades.
If you would prefer a shingle that lasts even longer, consider thicker versions of the traditional asphalt shingle. Though an upgraded version of the asphalt shingle will cost more, you won’t have to shell out money for a deductible each time a massive storm tears through your town.
FLAT ROOFING
Tar & Gravel
Most houses with flat or nearly-flat roofs are topped with built-up roofing, or “tar-and-gravel” roofing, made from fiberglass-based asphalt sheeting that is applied in layers, with hot bitumen mopped on between each layer.
The surface is coated with bitumen and a layer of gravel or crushed rock to hold the roofing material down and minimize damage from the sun and from abrasion. The light-colored gravel also reflects the sun’s heat. Built-up roofs can last from 10 to 20 years, depending on the severity of the weather.
Similar to built-up roofing is roofing made from a single layer of asphalt-impregnated material, called asphalt roll roofing. This is used more often on garages and outbuildings than on houses because of its relatively short life span (5 to 15 years). It is generally the least expensive roofing material available.
TPO & ROLLED
Most types of roofing available for flat roofs come in rolls. The rolls are typically up to 100 feet long, and may be any width from 6 – 20 feet wide. The vast majority of rolled roofing contains some variation of rubber in one of many different combinations. Your choices for rolled roofing include materials like:
Metal Roofs
Metal roofs are ideal for homes that feature a steep or flat roofline. Homeowners who opt for a low-galvanized metal will find that metal roofs are extremely cost efficient. This roof’s affordability is one of the main reasons why it has become so popular. Don’t worry about your metal roof’s lifespan. It will likely last around half a century.
Tile Shingles
Tile shingles are favored by those who are concerned with curb appeal. Homeowners who have Spanish or Mediterranean flair along their home exterior will immediately fall in love with tile shingles. They provide an idiosyncratic visual appeal that has the potential to last for 80 years or longer. You’ll be hard pressed to find a shingle that lasts longer.
Asphalt Shingles
The asphalt shingle is the most popular roof shingle.
It is low-cost and fully compliant with Energy Star requirements for the “cool roof” rebate. In general, roofers consider asphalt shingles to be of good quality. Though they are somewhat thinner than other shingles, asphalt shingles are quite durable. You can expect asphalt shingles to last between two and three decades.
If you would prefer a shingle that lasts even longer, consider thicker versions of the traditional asphalt shingle. Though an upgraded version of the asphalt shingle will cost more, you won’t have to shell out money for a deductible each time a massive storm tears through your town.
FLAT ROOFING
Tar & Gravel
Most houses with flat or nearly-flat roofs are topped with built-up roofing, or “tar-and-gravel” roofing, made from fiberglass-based asphalt sheeting that is applied in layers, with hot bitumen mopped on between each layer.
The surface is coated with bitumen and a layer of gravel or crushed rock to hold the roofing material down and minimize damage from the sun and from abrasion. The light-colored gravel also reflects the sun’s heat. Built-up roofs can last from 10 to 20 years, depending on the severity of the weather.
Similar to built-up roofing is roofing made from a single layer of asphalt-impregnated material, called asphalt roll roofing. This is used more often on garages and outbuildings than on houses because of its relatively short life span (5 to 15 years). It is generally the least expensive roofing material available.
TPO & ROLLED
Most types of roofing available for flat roofs come in rolls. The rolls are typically up to 100 feet long, and may be any width from 6 – 20 feet wide. The vast majority of rolled roofing contains some variation of rubber in one of many different combinations. Your choices for rolled roofing include materials like:
- Rubber Roofing – the most common kind, rubber roofing is also among the least expensive options available.
- EPDM Roofing – this is another name for rubber roofing and is made of a combination of recycled rubber, sawdust, and slate dust.
- TPO Roofing – this roofing material is growing in popularity due to its low cost, it’s usually made of a combination of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene rubber, but manufacturing varies greatly and so does its quality.
- Bitumen Roofing – this roofing is actually a type of asphalt that only recently has begun to be sold in rolls. It can be self-adhesive or cold-press adhesive, and the seams are usually fused together.
Quality Roofing Brands
