All roofs are not the same, nor are all your roofing needs. Although, it’s rare that a roof will last for a lifetime, a good roofing system will certainly not leave you high and dry each time there is snow, rains or storm.
Roofing is a major investment if you are a homeowner. It is very important to choose a roofing system wisely which will save you from the hassle of repairing and replacing it fully or any of its components, frequently. It should be simply durable.
The major components of a roofing system
There are 5 types of components that constitute a roofing system. These are the covering of the roof, structure of the roof, sheathing, drainage as well as flashing.
How to choose the best roofing system
There are no set of rules for selecting a roofing system. Your budget and personal preferences are the factors that decide the roofing system. Consider the architectural style of the house and the aesthetics you want when you buy a new roof and get your money worth. Your ideal roofing system takes into consideration all the 5 components of roofing. You should also take into account the need for a roofing system that keeps the house well ventilated and has proper insulation.
Choosing the suitable roofing products
The roofing industry gives you the choice of ultimate roofing experience based which may be the shape, color, material, size or texture. You may select the type of shingle based on your choice and preference. Here are the most common ones:
Fiberglass shingles
Fiberglass roof shingles are strong and durable and are used along with asphalt to form a shingle mat. It has an edge over wooden or other mats used to form asphalt shingles as it is more fire resistant. Most of the times, they come with a “Class A” rating on this.
Asphalt shingles
Most of the steep-slope houses in US use Asphalt shingles. Made of asphalt, these shingles stand out from the rest in terms of contemporary styles, shapes, look, color, size and of course longevity.
Metal Roofing
The cost and durability of metal roofing depends on the quality and the type of metal used. The cost component has two parts. Firstly, it is the cost of a high quality roofing and secondly, the cost of installation, which requires expertise and know-how.
Organic shingles
Organic shingles are no longer preferred by homeowners due to their non-durability. There are many solved and impending lawsuits against the manufacturers and sellers of organic shingles.
Wooden shingles
Wooden shingles and shakes were very much there much before asphalt shingles. If you are staying in a geographic location that is not too harsh to weather conditions, with just a little maintenance, it is likely to last up to next 30 years. If you think, you are inclined towards wooded shingles, buy a new roof and get your money worth for three decades.
Slate roofing
Slate roofing is beautiful and super-durable. You also get an aesthetic curb appeal and an old world charm with great contemporary styles. Stale is naturally found stone which makes it durable as compared to other materials used in roofing and does not require much maintenance. It has been seen that the resale value of houses with a slate0roof are quite high. Slate is however, not cost-effective and requires high labor and material costs.