The roof is the most important part of any house. Aside from protecting the contents of the home, the roof, being extremely visible, defines the beauty of your home. No matter how good the walls, doors, and windows are, if your roof is poor, people will think of your house as ugly.

This brings us to choose between metal and shingle roofs. These two are the most common roofing materials. But, you can only pick one. So, which is better? Which should you pick when building a new house or replacing your roof?

To make an informed decision, it’s important to understand the differences between the two. Below is a summary of the advantages and shortcomings of each option.

Metal Roofs

Today’s metal roofs are not only stylish but also extremely durable and energy efficient. Common metals used are; aluminum, steel, copper, zinc, and titanium.

Pros

• Longevity: On average, metal roofs last 70 years, but there are cases of copper and zinc roofs in Europe that have been around for more than 100 years!
• Long warranties: As a show of confidence in the material, most manufacturers are offering long warranties on their metal roofs. 35 to 50-year warranties aren’t uncommon.
• Lightweight: Metal is also very light compared to other roofing materials including asphalt. Although weights vary based on type, most metal roofs are 50% lighter than asphalt shingles.
• Environmentally friendly: Metal roofs reflect more than 60% of solar heat, keeping your home cooler in the summer. Plus, most metal roofs are made from recycled metals.

Cons

• High initial investment: Costing between $6 and $14 per square foot, metal roofs are rather expensive. And, installation isn’t any cheaper. By the time you’re done, you’ll have spent thousands of dollars.

• Difficult to install/repair: Installation is usually a labor-intensive project that can take more than a month to complete. Repair is just as labor intensive and both jobs can only be done by professionals.

Shingle Roofs

Shingles come in two main varieties; traditional organic asphalt and the newer fiberglass shingles. Traditional organic shingles feature a heavy felt under the asphalt while fiberglass shingles have a fiberglass core covered with an asphalt layer.

Pros

• Lower starting costs: Among the biggest advantages of shingles is the lower initial cost. Priced at between $3 and $4 per square foot, shingles easily fit into most homeowners’ budgets.
• Easy to work with: Shingles are also very easy to install and repair. In fact, you can strip out the old roof and install a new one within the same day – even on your own.
• A wider range of styles: Aside from the basic three-tab shingles, there are endless shingle styles out there; from thicker high-end laminates to wood and slate-mimicking options.
• Longevity: Finally, high-end shingles can last up to 50 years and often come with warranties lasting at least 25 years.

Cons

• Shingles are heavy: Most shingles weigh as much as 240 pounds per 100 square feet. Unless you have a very strong foundation, this can affect the life of the home in general.
• Longevity concerns: If the attic space is not properly ventilated, your shingle roof could be destroyed in a matter of years. Additionally, shingle roofs age pretty fast under extreme weather such as severe winds, hail, ice, or rain.

Ultimately, It Depends on Your Choice

If you’re looking for a 100-year roof and have the budget to boot, then metal roofs make the most sense. However, if you live in a place with good weather and are mostly interested in class and style, then shingles would be a good pick. Again, it’s up to you and your particular circumstances.

 

There are a few things that you can ask yourself when determining if you need a new roof. Outside of making a note of how long you’ve had the roof, you should look at more. Consider what kind of severe weather ailments it has had to endure and if you’re experiencing leaking. There are other things to look at, too. It’s not just your environment and how you treat your roof that determines how long it’s going to last. How your roofing materials were handled, stored, and installed all play a part too. There are some common signs that you can look for to help you decide if your roof needs replacing.

Go Over Your Records

As a rule of thumb, your receipts and paperwork that came with your roof are going to give you a lot of answers. While it is a more technical way of making the decision, the information can let you know if you should be replacing your roof every 20 or 25 years. If there’s nothing visibly wrong with your roof, knowing how much time it has left can give an idea of when you may start to see issues.

Dark or Light Patches

Small granules protect the asphalt in your roofing shingles. When the granules fall or wear off, you might notice that your shingles look like they have dark or light patches. You won’t have to worry about getting a leak when the granules are missing, but they are still critical. These tiny parts of the shingles work toward protecting the asphalt from the sun’s UV rays. Your shingles wear out faster without them.

Water Damage

Many problems come from water damage to a roof. It only takes as much as a rough wind storm to blow some shingles out of place, and your roof could leak. This damage becomes even more detrimental if it’s not something you notice right away. Missing out on leaks or water damage could cause rotting tiles in your ceiling and roof, and it could even cause sagging. If you feel like you’ve missed a hole, you can check your shingles for unexpected moss. If you suddenly have a forest growing from your roof, there’s a good chance that you’ve developed a leak or have some hidden moisture.

It Fails Self-Inspection

You should be doing a self-inspection on your roof every other year. It undoubtedly costs you a pretty penny, and you want to make sure that your investment stands the test of time. You can do a simple home inspection by checking your attic for water damage and looking for some common signs on and around your roof. Your review may fail if you find curling shingles, soft spots that indicate rotting, streaking, and more. This could be an apparent indication that it’s about time to replace your roof.

After you’ve looked for common signs, go with your gut instinct. If you feel like it’s a good idea to have a proper inspection done, you should hire a contractor to assess your roof. There are plenty of inspection services that are available to you. Experts can give you advice, quotes, and their opinion on whether or not you need a full replacement or work done on individual shingles

With energy costs on the rise, it’s important to consider energy-efficient products for your home improvement projects. Increasing your home efficiency can help you save money, and improve the overall comfort of your home and family.

The type of roof you choose for your home can have a significant impact on the overall efficiency of your home. So what roofing material is the most energy efficient? Here’s what you should know.

Most Energy Efficient Roofing Materials

If you are looking for an energy-efficient roof, you’ll want to choose a material that effectively blocks or reflects the heat. You’ll find that there are a number of energy-efficient choices when it comes to roofing materials.

Cool Roofs

Cool roofs are specifically designed to reflect more light and absorb less heat from the sun. When it comes to performance, cool roofs surpass standard roofing systems. With a cool roof installation, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to keep your home cooled.

This helps to reduce your energy usage and decreases the amount of wear and tear on your HVAC system. This means fewer repairs and an extended lifespan of your heating and cooling system over time.

Metal Roofs

Metal roofs are also a great choice for improving your home’s energy efficiency. The surface of the metal heats up as it reflects the sun’s rays while underneath remains cool. Metal roofing is an excellent choice for commercial applications.

Tile Roofs

Roofing tiles made of clay, concrete, or slate are great for improving the energy efficiency of your home. In some cases, most tiles for roofs have enough natural reflectivity to meet cool roof standards. Tiles with lower solar reflectance can be surface treated to meet these same standards.

Additional Considerations for Energy Efficient Roofs

While cool roofs are the most energy-efficient roofing materials, there are other factors you should consider. For instance, your regional climate can have a significant impact on the performance and efficiency of your roof.

You should also consider moisture susceptibility when choosing the most energy-efficient roofing material for your home. In warm climates with a high moisture level, some roofing materials may be more susceptible to mold, mildew, and algae growth.

In general, it’s best to work with a knowledgeable and experienced roofing professional when replacing the roof on your home. Your roofing expert can help you choose the most energy-efficient roofing material for your home and needs.

When it comes to choosing roofing materials, there are several factors to consider including longevity, weather conditions, cost, and aesthetics. Most people are concerned with the longevity of their roof and rightly so since this is an expensive endeavor. If you want your roof to last a long time, try one of these roof types.

Composite Shingle Roof

One of the cheapest materials, composite shingle roofing will last anywhere from 10 to 50 years. Unfortunately, the quality of composite shingles varies drastically and so does the longevity. If you decide to go with this type of material for your roof, stick with these manufacturers:

• Owens Corning
• GAF
• CertainTeed

To keep your composite shingle roof looking its best and lasting as long as possible, be sure to remove moss and other debris as soon as you see it and never power wash this type of roof.

Wood Shingle Roof

Wood shingles can last up to 25 years, but because wood is organic it is susceptible to the elements, especially water. If you choose this type of material, you’ll want to replace any damaged or cracked shingles right away and keep any moss growth under control. If you have pine or other trees around your home, you’ll need to clean the pine needles or leaves off your roof routinely so that water does not get trapped and allow the wood to rot.

Standing Seam Metal Roof

Metal roofs are starting to become mainstream and with good reason. This type of roof will last about 30 to 50 years. But it’s also more expensive, and you’ll need to find a roofing company that specializes in this type of material because it can be tricky to work with and install.

To make your metal roof last longer, you’ll want to check it regularly for any problems such as failing fasteners and sealant as well as any bent, migrating, or distressed panels.

Wood Shake Shingle Roof

There is a difference between wood shingles and a wood shake shingle roof, mainly longevity. A wood shake shingle roof can last 35 to 40 years and can weather the elements more readily because the shingles are much thicker. But they do need regular maintenance. You’ll need to remove any moss and other debris and replace any damaged wood shake shingles right away.

Clay Tile Roof

Also known as Spanish tile, a clay tile roof will most likely outlive you, typically lasting up to 100 years. It can withstand various weather conditions and is not susceptible to decay like wood or composite shingles.

The only thing that will cause this type of roof to deteriorate is broken tiles. They will need to be replaced as soon as possible to keep your roof intact. You may also need to occasionally wipe off efflorescence with a clean towel, preferably a dry one.

Slate Roof

Slate is the most durable of roofing materials, lasting over 100 years in most cases. Originally used in the time of Shakespeare, slate roofs are solid stone and very thick. However, because of the weight of a slate roof, adequate truss strength is required so it’s important to have a qualified roofing company do the work.

A slate roof is also fairly easy to maintain. You’ll need to keep an eye on the copper flashing – if it turns black it should be replaced. You should also replace any broken tiles immediately.

Choosing roofing materials is a delicate balance between what you can afford and what materials will last the longest. Longer lasting materials will cost more up front but will be more cost effective long term.

Roofing renovation and installations can be a headache especially when they don’t go as planned. To make sure that things go as planned make sure these roofing mistakes don’t happen to you. There are a few areas in your home that need to stand the true test of time and harsh elements, and your roof is one of them. Roof replacement and repair jobs either patch the problem for a short period of time or don’t fix the problem at all.

The following major roofing mistakes show a lack of proper roofing knowledge and if it’s a contractor that has made these mistakes then you should be asking some questions.

No Leaking Barriers

This might seem like the most common, some roofers will either forget or not care enough to install a leak barrier before installing the shingles.

This could cause huge problems with skylights as a leak will develop over a period of time.

Improper Installation In Roof Valleys

A lot of roofers and contractors have their own way of doing things, but there is still a standard that needs to be followed. Nails that have been installed in the roof’s valleys are not the correct process.

As time passes the hole the nail created can end up allowing water direct access to the underside of the roof and straight into your attic.

In most cases, unless you did it yourself most roofers will not make this mistake, although some of them tend to make use of improper shingling methods.

This can allow water to collect in the valley leading to major problems very quickly.

Neglecting Attic Ventilation

Attic ventilation goes a long way in reducing the temperature in the attic and on your roof deck.

Shingles can start to show signs of damage from extremely high temperatures making them ineffective.

An attic vent can be put in for a few hundred dollars and can save you a lot of money on your electric bills in the summer.

Cricket Behind The Chimney

The water behind the chimney needs to be diverted so that you don’t develop a leak; this is where a cricket comes in.

Cricket is used to help divert the water away from the chimney and keep it flowing down the gutters.

These are simple to install and are almost mandatory to prevent leakage problems for years so an incorrectly installed cricket can cause a lot of problems later on.

Incorrect Shingle Use

The area where your roof experiences the most high-speed winds are the hips and ridges, it is important that special shingles are used that will ensure the shingle is kept in place during a storm and that water consistently flows off both sides.

Special shingles are made that are more durable and thicker and need to be installed as opposed to regular roof shingles.

So make sure no shortcuts are being made by the use of regular shingles to save cost.

Bad Starter Course

The starter course at the edge of the roof needs to be properly installed in order for it to work effectively.

The shingles should be staggered so that water does not seep between them.

Putting Shingles on Shallow Sloping Roofs

If your roof is shallow and sloping, pay great attention here. A shingled roof is designed to help channel water away from the underlying structure. However, this doesn’t make it waterproof!

If the angle of the roof is too shallow, the water will not be able to flow fast enough to prevent seepage.

Not Installing a Drip Edge

An incorrectly installed drip edge is extremely important, it prevents water from getting into areas where it can cause severe rot or discolor siding.

A properly installed drip edge can keep a roof functioning longer; it helps protect other areas of your home.

Improper Flashing Installation

This is a very common mistake; incorrectly installed flashing can cause horrible leaks.

A correct way to install flashing is to make sure there is a substratum of something to seal the gap underneath, followed by step flashing on top, which is then nailed to the deck of the roof.

Nailing Shingles the Wrong Way

Take great when laying down nails and not go too quickly or get them at an angle, it is vitally important that the nails are being driven perpendicular to the shingles so that the fiberglass matting between the asphalt layers of the shingle does not suffer from a tear or become compromised.

An over-pressurized nail gun can do the same thing by driving the nail at an angle make sure to double check the pressurization ensuring no nails will be driven in forcefully.