If you’re thinking of replacing your roof or are building a new roof on a new home, you’ll likely find yourself choosing one of these roof materials.
The reason why these are so popular isn’t complicated, Asphalt Shingles are great for the budget-minded, while metal roofs and cedar shakes/shingles are available for those who need a stronger roof or want a specific look
Whatever you choose, each has pro’s and con’s depending on your home and budget:
Asphalt Shingles
The most common residential roof type by far, asphalt shingles has many advantages that justify it’s top spot.
Pros:
- The most affordable of all the roof types, they start cheap with 3-tab shingles and go all the way to designer shingles that replicate more expensive roof types like cedar shakes.
- Looks great on most any home.
- Relatively easy to repair and maintain (if inspected regularly)
- East to install with most installations taking just a couple of days.
- Plenty of variety, even the pickiest of homeowners can find something they like.
- Lightweight and durable
Cons:
- Especially susceptible to wind and hail damage
- Moss & mildew grow easily on asphalt shingles
- Compared to other roof types has a short lifespan, requiring replacement every 15- 30 years.
Metal Roofs
Pros:
- Can last as long as the house or building itself
- Shrugs off wind and rain like it never happened, especially durable
- Mildew, mold, rot, even fire doesn’t phase a metal roof, it’s resistance to these is legendary.
Cons;
- The most expensive of the 3 common roof types both in terms of materials and labor
- Hail damage may not affect the integrity of a metal roof, it can leave ugly dents.
- Can be loud during rains although roof contractors can mitigate this with various methods to dampen the noise.
- Repairs can be expensive. Although metal roofs are extremely durable, if a repair needs to be performed it can be quite expensive compared to it’s asphalt shingle cousins.
Cedar Shakes/Cedar Shingles
Pros:
- Extremely durable. highly resistant to wind and rain
- Properly maintained, cedar shakes/shingles can last several decades or more.
- Looks great to many (beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course)
- Actually looks better (again subjective) as it ages
Cons:
- Material is more expensive as is labor as each shake must be installed individually.
- Also susceptible to moss, mold, and mildew, homeowners must strictly adhere to a regular maintenance schedule. Individual shakes should be replaced by a roof contractor as soon as they need to.
No matter what you choose, a roof is only as good as it’s installation. Be sure you hire a qualified roof contractor to install your new roof to help ensure it’s as trouble-free as possible for the life of the roof.
For more information on roof types or to obtain a free estimate on your roof project in Metro Atlanta call Atlanta Roofing Specialists at 770-419-2222 today!