Roofing materials offer protection against weather elements. They also help control heat loss and gain, keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer. The right roofing material can enhance a building’s architecture and provide design coherence. Choosing the best material depends on many factors, including balancing cost and durability. For more information, check out your local Roofers Round Rock TX.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are among the most common roofing materials used on homes. They’re economical, easy to install, and available in various colors. They work well on most roofs, but do not work well on flat or low-sloped roofs. They’re also not as energy efficient as some other roofing materials.
There are two basic types of asphalt shingle: three-tab and architectural (also known as dimensional). The three-tab variety is simple flat shingles that connect to one another to create a uniform appearance. The more popular architectural shingles are constructed of multiple layers laminated together to create a dimensional appearance. They’re available in many different shapes and sizes, including curved and scalloped styles. They’re also available in a wide range of tones, from traditional black and brown to grays and even some weathered or rustic looking shingles.
Shingles are manufactured to be durable and long-lasting. They’re generally rated to resist 110-130 mph winds and most offer high-wind limited warranties. They’re often made of a fiberglass mat saturated with an asphalt coating and then surfaced with ceramic-coated opaque mineral granules that give the shingles color and weatherproofing qualities.
The granules are important for protecting the underlying asphalt from UV rays. They also help insulate the roof from extreme heat and cold and provide resistance to fire. In addition, the granules absorb and reflect solar energy to help keep a home cooler in hot temperatures and warmer in cooler ones.
Other raw materials that go into the manufacturing of asphalt shingles include recycled paper, cellulose fibers, and various minerals such as rock salt and clay. There are also certain chemical additives to the asphalt that add a layer of protection and enhance the durability of the shingle.
Because they reflect sunlight rather than absorbing it, asphalt shingles are very effective at cooling a home. They’re also able to significantly reduce the noises of traffic, airplanes, and barking dogs from filtering through a house’s walls and ceilings.
Aside from their ability to reduce the temperature in a home and save on energy costs, asphalt shingles are a good choice for homeowners concerned about the environment. There are now a number of roofing products that are designed to incorporate a reflective asphalt coating that helps prevent the sun’s UV rays from heating up a building.
Wood Shingles
Wood shingles can add a natural look to any home, complementing its scenic beauty and adding depth to the exterior. There are many different types of wood shingles, so homeowners can choose one that best suits their taste and complements the traditional or modern elements that make up the home.
Wood shakes and shingles can be used in combination with other roofing materials to add visual interest to the roof. They can also be crafted into different shapes and sizes to add a more intricate design to the roof, highlighting conventional and unconventional features of the home’s exterior. They are available in a wide variety of colors, allowing homeowners to create a custom look that complements the architectural style of their house.
A wood shingle is a waterproof wooden tile for the outer cladding of buildings – more typically roofs but sometimes walls as well. They can be made from a range of woods, including red cedar (which has a unique color and aroma) and eastern white pine. In the UK, they are most often made from oak or sweet chestnut, which have a high tannin content and are naturally durable. Traditionally, they were made from timber shipped from abroad, but in recent times, western red cedar has become the most common choice for shingles, as it’s more readily available and is just as durable.
The main difference between a shingle and a shake is that a shingle is shaped, while a shake is raw, unshaped wood. The shape of the shingle determines its durability and appearance. Edge grain shingles are cut perpendicular to the tree rings and are the most stable, but they are usually more expensive. Flat grain shakes and shingles are cut parallel to the tree rings and are more likely to split and distort over time.
Both shakes and shingles can be stained in order to protect the wood and enhance its look, but it’s important to keep in mind that this will add to the overall cost of the roof. Maintenance is also an important consideration for wood shingles and shakes, as they need to be cleaned and treated with protective coatings at least twice each year to ensure longevity.
Metal Shingles
Metal shingles have gained popularity in recent years due to their durability, energy efficiency, and style. They look like traditional asphalt shingle roofs but provide superior weather protection that increases home and building value and helps reduce energy bills.
The beauty of a metal shingle roof is its ability to blend in with traditional architecture. This makes them a great choice for homeowners who want to keep their home’s exterior look consistent without deviating from what is standard in their neighborhood.
A metal shingle roof can also add a more dramatic look to a house than an asphalt shingle roof. There are a variety of colors and designs available to choose from so homeowners can create a custom look for their roof. Some metal shingle systems even come with pre-formed flashing details for the most seamless fit possible. This means that a homeowner can save money during the roofing process by eliminating the need for a professional to hand-bend flashing details on-site.
Another advantage of a metal roof is its high wind resistance. The interlocking nature of a metal shingle system provides extra strength, helping to ensure the integrity of a roof in areas with strong winds. This added strength and protection from weather elements can help a metal roof last 2-3 times longer than an asphalt shingle roof.
It is important to note that while a steel roof fares better than an asphalt shingle roof in the face of extreme weather, it can still be damaged by hail. While pea-sized or even dime-sized hail won’t damage a metal roof, larger hailstones can cause significant roof damage. It is therefore a good idea to get a roof that is covered by homeowner’s insurance in cases where large hail is prevalent in the area.
Another benefit of a metal shingle roof is that it is a lighter material than asphalt shingles. This means that a person can easily carry it up to the roof for installation and will put less stress on their body during the process. This also means that a metal roof can be installed on an existing asphalt shingle roof, saving the cost and hassle of a roof tear-off.
Composite Shakes
Before asphalt and composite shingles became popular, natural cedar shakes were one of the most common types of roofing. They’re different from traditional shingles in that they’re crafted from split logs, creating an attractive rustic appearance. However, because they’re not a single piece of wood, they’re prone to issues like rot, cupping, nail popping, water absorption, mold growth, splintering and graying / fading. While preservatives and chemical treatments are used to prevent these issues, these aren’t foolproof.
The beauty and elegance of cedar shakes are still desirable in today’s market, but these natural shingles aren’t ideal for all areas. For example, in mountain communities or areas with a fire ban, a real cedar roof can be a liability. Durable composite roof shingles are the perfect alternative. They’re aesthetically appealing and come with the advantages of long term performance, low maintenance, quality and return on investment.
Composite roof shingles are made from recycled materials, making them environmentally friendly. They also provide an authentic look and feel that rivals that of the natural materials they’re modeled after. DaVinci is an example of a company that offers a line of composite slate and shake products that are incredibly durable. Their Bellaforte shake is modeled from actual cedar shakes and is available in nine colors. EcoStar, another company that offers a variety of synthetic roofing tiles, is known for their Majestic Slate and Enviroshake products, both of which are designed to mimic the color, natural texture and durability of quarried slate and hand-split or machine-sawn cedar shakes.
Both of these companies offer a variety of composite shake and slate products, including multi-width and single-width options to match the thickness of a genuine cedar shake or slate roof. The product that’s right for you will depend on the amount of curb appeal you want and your budget.
Compared to the high cost of installing real cedar shakes in Great Falls, MT, you’ll save money with composite shingle roofing. Plus, they’re more durable against our harsh Montana climate than traditional shingles. And, unlike real wood shakes, composite shingles are fireproof, so you’ll protect your home from potential damages caused by lightning and wildfires.
