Asphalt shingles are a great budget-friendly option because they provide you with many benefits, such as longevity and an affordable price. They’re also typically easier to install than other materials like tile, which means that it’s cheaper for you when hiring someone else to do the labour.
Plus, since asphalt shingles look really nice, there will be no need for extensive painting or tiling in your home!
Tile roofing is popular in the Southwest and Florida due to its reflective properties, while slate roofs are more commonly chosen by those living in homes that have Victorian or Gothic architecture from the 1800s. Metal roofs can be found across all states of this country, depending on quality installation skills.
The lifespan of a metal roof ranges anywhere from 50 years up to 100 if it’s maintained properly as opposed to tile and slate, which last between 10-20 years with good upkeep habits being implemented at home.
A shingle roof is CR tested, but below, we also offer information about faux slate and composite tile.
These two alternatives give the upscale look of real slate or tile roofs respectively without costing as much time to install because they’re not very heavy as a true Slate Roof that will cost you $1,500 per square plus at least that same amount for installation by a skilled mason which leaves you with an expensive total bill of up to $50-100k!
If this sounds too difficult, then check out Top Glaze’s wide range of services for your new roof replacement needs.
Types of Roofing Materials
You’ve probably been doing some preliminary research on a new roof for your home. While that’s good, you might still be confused about the options available to you and not know the different types of material out there.
That’s where we come in! With decades of experience with all kinds of residential roofs, Stay Dry Roofing can help make sure you get exactly what will work best for your home. Here are some of the most common types of roofing materials we use with our customers today in Indianapolis:
The home you live in is your safe haven. You want to create a space that feels like it protects and holds all of the things important to you, which includes choosing materials for its roofing system that are both aesthetically pleasing and durable.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution, though – every house has different needs when it comes time to plan out their roofs because some have flat roofs or low slopes while others may require steeper pitches due to either design or load capacity concerns. With this many variables, get an estimate from professionals before making any decisions!
- Asphalt is the most commonly used roofing material, because it’s inexpensive and requires minimal skill to install. It’s made of a fiberglass medium that has been mixed with asphalt then covered in sand-like granules. The two basic types are single thicknesses (the standard type) or thicker laminated shingle roofs which have an attractive textured appearance but only last for about half as long at around 15 years plus versus 25 year minimum). For installation costs you’ll be looking anywhere from $50 per square foot up to $200 depending on quality and materials used so take your time before making any decisions!
- Wood is the traditional choice for shingles and it’s still a great option. You can find cedar, redwood or southern pine shingles in different areas depending on fire codes but they’re all made to last at least 25 years which means you’ll never have to worry about them again! Wood cost an average of twice as much than asphalt so be sure that this investment will work best with your budget before making any final decisions.
- Metal roofs come in many different varieties. They can be made from aluminum, steel, copper or even a combination of all three materials mixed together for lead and other roofing surfaces; the durability will depend on which one you choose to install. These types are typically installed as shingles but some also have seams that make them more durable than their counterparts with rounded edges – these start at about $250 per square foot and may cost up to 3 times this amount if they go over 150 sq ft., depending on the material used.
- Tiles and cement are two common roofing materials that imitate the wavy effect of tiles. They can be heavy, expensive, durable options when it comes to choosing a roof for your home or business.
- Slate’s durability and resistance to the elements makes it an excellent choice for a roof. Not all slate is created equal, with quarries from states like Vermont being known as some of the best in quality which will last another hundred years or more! Slate can be expensive but starts at about $800 per square foot so many homeowners find themselves weighing cost vs longevity before choosing this material.
How to Tell When You Need a New Roof?
Water Will Find a Way In
Watermarks on a ceiling, or worse, dripping water, could have you worried that your whole roof is in tatters. But just because there’s a leak doesn’t mean your roof will require massive amounts of repairs.
Sometimes stopping it can be as simple as filling the crack with caulk and replacing some shingles; other times, all it takes to do the trick is installing flashing–a metal membrane used for protecting corners from leaking by redirecting water at these vulnerable spots instead.
Fallen tree limbs, hail and even wind, can loosen or remove shingles. Damaged flashing is another common culprit for leaks. Rubberized boots around plumbing pipes and improperly installed satellite dishes or solar panels are other causes of isolated water leakages in roofs that homeowners need to keep an eye out for. To determine what kind of leak you’ve got on your hands, first try to trace it back into the origin so that we may fix it as soon as possible!
Looking for Leaks
It’s easiest to find a leak when it’s raining outside, so you can watch for that tell-tale drip coming out of your ceiling or walls. However, the water often accumulates at a spot that is different from where it’s entering – in fact, if it runs down the length of rafter or stud and only drips once reaching a low point!
In an unfinished attic, the framing is visible, so simply start at the leak and look along with any wood that leads to where you found it. In a finished attic, you’ll need to use something called a jab saw, which will cut away anything in your ways like drywall or insulation, so make sure there are no obstructions before cutting them down.
Once you think of what could be causing water damage on top of your roof (or even from inside), take out those binoculars and see if they can identify anything like missing shingles or worn-out flashing near chimneys!
If you can’t locate the leak yourself, a licensed roofing contractor can perform an inspection and make recommendations about whether repair or replacement is needed.
Even if you’re able to find your own leak, we recommend leaving it up to pro—climbing onto your roof with that tall extension ladder sounds like too dangerous of the job! Most leaks are easy fixes when they only affect one spot on the roof.
If you are experiencing recurring leaks and your roof is out of warranty, it may be time for a new roof.
The money spent on multiple short-term fixes would probably be better applied to getting a brand-new one with an extended warranty at this point in the game. We have all types available here!
Other Warning Signs
Leaks are inevitable, and you don’t want to wait for the signs of a leak before taking care of it. Missing or damaged shingles can be warning signs that there is water intrusion coming soon to your home’s structure.
And when looking at roofs in general, homeowner insurance companies will assume an asphalt roof will last about 20 years as long as they’re not worn down by age yet.
Inspections done earlier on from either contractor or licensed inspectors should tell how old a roof may have been put onto by any previous owners through analysis based on condition alone!
It is always a good idea to replace an out-of-warranty roof that’s more than 20 years old, even if it doesn’t show any signs of damage.
That’s because leaks can do serious damage to the wood sheathing beneath your shingles, and then when you are finally ready for replacement, it will cost several thousand dollars extra due to warped or rotted wood. The illustration below shows how different layers work together in a typical roof system.
Insurance Coverage
Roof repairs and maintenance are something you should not put off, as they can lead to costly damage. To prevent future roof-related issues from occurring, make sure that your homeowner’s insurance covers such queries before hiring anyone who might work on the roof of your home!
You may also want to consider any increase in premiums if a new repair or replacement is necessary – would paying for it yourself be more sensible?
Sorting out an isolated leak is a lot easier when you have homeowner’s insurance. Generally, most insurers will send an adjuster to provide an estimate for the repair on your roof, as well as any damage it might cause with framing or drywall.
However, if they do cover repairs to the leaking structure of your home, like how all these things are connected-they won’t pay for replacement costs! So don’t let this happen in order that you’re not left owing more than what was covered by their payout.
How to Select the Right Roofing Material for Your Coastal Home?
Whether you’re replacing your existing roof or looking for a new one, choosing the right material is imperative. Choosing the best type of roofing can be difficult when living in beach areas due to their harsh conditions! Let’s take a look at what factors you should consider before making any decisions:
Weather-Resistance
Weather-resistant roofing materials are essential for homes that live on the coast. Choosing a material is tough.
There’s so many out there to choose from, and they all come with different benefits! But don’t worry, we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
With all the factors to take into account when designing your roof, it’s important that you make sure not to forget about hurricane resistance. With hurricanes striking the coastline an average of five times every three years, strong wind resistance is key for any home and will help give your new material more longevity as well!
When choosing materials such as shingles or metal panels, there are many different types available, so don’t be afraid to ask around before making your final decision on what type might work best for this project.
Insulation
As a homeowner, it’s important to have your home insulated. Insulation can make all the difference in how well you’re able to maintain ideal temperatures and keep energy costs down.
If you live somewhere that regularly experiences extreme temperature swings like Miami Beach, for example, insulation is especially critical because of the high demand on air conditioning units during heat waves which leads to higher bills too!
Your roof is one of your home’s key defences against outside temperatures, so it’s wise to select a roofing material that offers an impressive insulation value.
This will not only keep out the hot sun but the cold as well! If there are seasons when you want to keep inside warmer or colder than it is outside – then insulation becomes very important.
Maintenance
The wide array of roofing materials means that there is a material for all budgets and maintenance preferences. For instance, if you want to save money on your beach house home but don’t mind performing some DIY tasks, then metal roofs are an excellent option because they require little-to-no maintenance.
Alternatively, slate or tile roofs might be the right choice if you’re looking for something more aesthetically pleasing yet still low-maintenance, as these two types need only occasional touchups due to extreme weather conditions in coastal areas like hurricanes and typhoons!
Roof maintenance is a lot more than simply removing debris and weather-sealing. Your roof also needs to be repaired as soon as possible if any damage occurs on it, or else the problem will worsen over time!
Roofs need routine tasks like clearing away leaves and other natural detritus that accumulate in gutters, caulking around vent pipes, repairing shingles when necessary after windstorms etc., which helps keep your roof looking attractive for years to come.
Aesthetic
Aesthetic appeal is an important consideration when choosing a roofing material since it will have a significant impact on the overall appearance of your home’s exterior.
This should be done carefully, as there are many considerations to think about before deciding what you want for your house and its surrounding property. For example, if you live in a beach-town where aesthetics matter most, then why pick something that detracts from this?
Ideally, the material you choose will fit the style of your home.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that if you have a Spanish Mission-style home, you have to have clay tile, or if you have a New England coastal home, you must use cedar shakes.
Choose the material that you like best for your home. You may be able to customize the appearance by choosing a specific variation or color, as well.
Cost
Another practical factor to consider when choosing a roof for your coastal home is cost. You’ll want to consider your own budget and determine what materials are available in your price range.
However, simply comparing materials based on their price can be misleading because you need the material that will last longer if possible!
Let’s say you choose an affordable material like wood or slate, but it needs replacing every 20 years- then there would be no point of putting money into something temporary as well as paying twice over time with a higher upfront investment than needed.
Building Codes
Finally, you’ll need to check with your local building codes before installing any roofing material.
Coastal states often have stricter laws when it comes to things like storm-proof roofs because hurricanes are more likely in these regions (Florida residents will find the most stringent guidelines of all).
Remember that material is not all that matters, and the way it’s installed can be just as important.
Be sure you abide by local codes when installing a roof for your home; feel free to ask your roofing company about ways of protecting yourself from weather or other issues they may recommend if you live in a humid area.
For example, positioning a rain screen before installing wood shings on top if this applies to where you are living at any given time will help protect against humidity which could then lead to problems with water damage or rot over time.